What to see in Sant Francesc Xavier, the heart of Formentera

Sant Francesc Xavier is the capital of Formentera and its main town: it is home to the Consell de Formentera (the island council), and shops, terraces and restaurants cluster around its square. It is a small, peaceful place of whitewashed houses that is best explored on foot, at an unhurried pace.

If you are planning a trip to Formentera, Sant Francesc Xavier and the area around it should be high on your list. And to see the island from a different angle, with spectacular views from the sea, many visitors choose boat hire in Formentera: boats leave from the port of la Savina, just a few kilometres from the town, and make it easy to reach the beaches and coves of the west coast.

Where is Sant Francesc Xavier and how to get there

Sant Francesc lies in the west of the island, a few kilometres from the port of la Savina, where the ferries from Ibiza arrive. You can get there by car, scooter, bike or bus, or on foot or by bike along the La Savina – Sant Francesc – Es Pujols green route (5.6 km in total).

A stroll through the old town

The old centre of Sant Francesc Xavier is small but charming and ideal for exploring on foot. Its white streets and the Plaza de la Constitució have a relaxed feel, with little boutiques selling fashion, homeware and jewellery.

The church of Sant Francesc Xavier: the soul of the town

In the centre, opposite the Consell, stands the church of Sant Francesc Xavier, completed in 1738; 2026 marks 300 years since its first stone was laid. It was designed as both a place of worship and a defensive fortress, at a time when the threat of pirates was still very real: hence its austere appearance and its door clad in iron plates.

Close by is the chapel of sa Tanca Vella, dating from the 13th or 14th century. It became too small once the island was resettled, which led to the building of the present church. After your visit, the square and its terraces are the perfect place for a break.

Church of Sant Francesc Xavier. Photo: Marcin Janeczek, CC BY 3.0

Sant Francesc markets: crafts and second-hand finds

From May to October, the streets of the centre fill with stalls selling crafts, jewellery, leather goods, fashion and local design. They open in the mornings and, in July and August, in the evenings too.

On Tuesday and Saturday mornings there is also a second-hand market (clothes, books and all sorts of odds and ends) in the Jardí de ses Eres, behind the church.

Wandering among the stalls is the best way to take a little piece of Formentera home with you and discover the island’s craft talent.

Sant Francesc second-hand market. Photo: P.M.V. / Diario de Ibiza

Formentera Ethnographic Collection: island life in times gone by

Another must-see in Sant Francesc Xavier is the Formentera Ethnographic Collection, a permanent exhibition of tools, utensils, furniture, clothing and instruments that shows how people lived on the island until the mid-20th century.

Address and admission

• Address: Calle Jaume I, 15 (first floor), Sant Francesc.
• Admission: free.
• Opening hours: check before you go with the Consell’s tourist office (971 32 10 87).

Where to eat in Sant Francesc Xavier

The heart of the island is also a good place to try the local food. You will find bars and restaurants that blend traditional cooking with modern touches.

Local dishes you should try

• Sofrit pagès: a hearty meat and potato stew.
• Peix sec: sun-dried fish, the key ingredient of the traditional farmhouse salad (ensalada payesa).
• Orelletes: a typical sweet pastry from the Pityusic Islands (Ibiza and Formentera).
• Caldereta de langosta: lobster stew, a classic seafood dish of the Balearic Islands.

A few addresses in the centre: Fonda Platé, on Calle Jaume I, with a terrace and Mediterranean dishes for sharing; Ca na Pepa, on the Plaza de la Constitució, serving Argentinian food and excellent meat; and Ca na Joana, recommended in the Michelin Guide, set in a restored 17th-century house and serving Mediterranean cuisine with Japanese and Peruvian touches.

Day trips from Sant Francesc Xavier

As well as being worth a visit in its own right, the town is perfectly placed for trips to some of Formentera’s most iconic spots.

Cala Saona: a picture-postcard beach

West of the town, less than 5 km away (the Sant Francesc – ses Bardetes – Cala Saona green route is 3.7 km long), Cala Saona is known for its crystal-clear water and its setting of reddish cliffs. It is perfect for snorkelling or simply relaxing in the sun, and in season there is a bus (line L5).

Cala Saona. Photo: Isla Azul Formentera

Cap de Barbaria and its lighthouse

South of Sant Francesc, some 9–10 km away, is one of Formentera’s most iconic places: the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, standing on a headland more than 100 metres high. The road crosses a dry landscape that opens out to the sea, and the lighthouse is one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset. It was the main location for Julio Medem’s film Lucía y el sexo (Sex and Lucía).

Important: from 15 May to 15 October you cannot drive a car or ride a scooter all the way to the lighthouse. There is a car park before the access barrier (around 60 spaces for cars and 100 for motorbikes), and you cover the rest of the way on foot or by bike. People with reduced mobility are allowed through.

Cap de Barbaria lighthouse. Photo: Ciprianim, CC BY-SA 4.0

Torre des Garroveret: a historic watchtower

A few minutes’ walk east of the lighthouse, don’t miss the torre des Garroveret. Completed in 1763 to keep watch over the coast, it is Formentera’s southernmost tower and stands on a cliff some 65 metres high. It has been a listed Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) since 1949.

Torre des Garroveret. Photo: Joan Gené, CC0

Tips for visiting Sant Francesc Xavier

• Comfortable shoes: the centre is best explored on foot, and it is well worth getting lost in its streets.
• Shop opening hours: outside the summer, many shops close at midday (usual hours are 9am–2pm and 5pm–8pm); in summer, many stay open all day until late evening.
• Hire a bike or a scooter: it is an easy way to get around the town and the surrounding area.
• Market days: the second-hand market is held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, and the craft stalls open daily from May to October.

Why visit Sant Francesc Xavier?

This town is the cultural and social heart of Formentera. Strolling its streets, discovering its food and chatting with the locals will give you a real feel for the island spirit. And its location makes it the ideal base for exploring some of the island’s most spectacular landscapes.

Whether you are travelling solo, as a couple or with family, Sant Francesc Xavier will welcome you with open arms. Don’t miss the chance to get to know it!