SAN FRANCESC AND A HOUSE IN THE HEART OF THE ISLAND

SANT FRANCESC AND A HOUSE IN THE HEART OF THE ISLAND

 

A capital tailored to the island

 

 

 

Sant Francesc is the capital of Formentera, a small town of whitewashed houses and a central square with a church. With the arrival of summer, its pedestrian streets are filled with colorful clothing and home decor shops, bars, and restaurants.

 

 

 

 

Photografy by @dosmares_ibiza

Text by Daniel Foraster

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Formentera is just a strange scribble in the vast blue Mediterranean Sea, an irregular brown smudge on the map marking the last southern link in the Balearic archipelago. And Sant Francesc, its capital, in this particular silhouette, is located in an uncertain center that seems to have been placed at random, recognizable only as a crossroads: one leading east, toward the outstretched arm of Migjorn, and the other leading south, toward Es Cap de Barbària.

Sant Francesc is also a small cluster of buildings drawn on the map of Formentera, barely larger than the other towns on the island, such as Sant Ferran and Es Pujols. And the Plaça de Sant Jaume is the place where everything begins or ends in Sant Francesc. Presided over by the church, whose architecture harks back to a millennia-old heritage recognizable throughout the Mediterranean, the square is the place where its few intertwined streets converge and where the diversity that characterizes the island is found.

Sant Francesc is a town that invites you to stroll slowly and enjoy the many contrasts that can be discovered just a few steps away. It’s a town where, with the ease of old acquaintances, a peasant market selling local products coexists alongside Mediterranean-style clothing stores like Vintage or Full Moon, and hippie-inspired shops like Yemanyá. There are also more modern shops like WeAreCosta, along with fashion and accessories inspired by island elements like Obi, and those rooted in Formentera tradition, like Modas Ferrer, with handmade sweaters made with wool from local sheep.

The square is the place to stop and rest and have a drink, while watching the comings and goings of the people who populate the island in summer, on some of the island’s most iconic terraces, such as Fonda Platé or Bar del Centro, or other more modern ones that have settled into the life and rhythm of Formentera, such as Ca Na Pepa or the one that is part of the Hotel Marés.

On summer nights, it is in the square where, without losing the local flavor, parties that have transcended borders, such as flower power, and all kinds of shows and concerts, are held.

In Sant Francesc we find classic restaurants in the summer life of the island such as Can Carlos, serving meat and fish cooked in the Italian style, Ceferino, serving tapas with a modern touch, or the new restaurant by the renowned chef Dani Serra, who obtained a Michelin star in 2014 with his first project, Can Dani, and who, in addition to his cuisine based on “classic recipes, mixed with more modern techniques”, displays some of the sarcasm typical of Formentera residents, whether born or adopted, as he has kept the name of the shop that previously housed his premises, Casa Paya Electrodomésticos (Casa Paya household appliances), for his restaurant.

A small, modern development of houses with three to five suites located on the outskirts of Sant Francesc, inspired by traditional Formentera architecture: thick white walls, sandstone walls, and wooden beams, along with all the amenities and comforts that a relaxing day demands.

The charm of Formentera is just five minutes from the square. The pleasure of going out in the morning, without having to take the car, to buy bread and a flaó for dessert for lunch, or having an improvised breakfast on one of the terraces with a good coffee and pastries, unhurried, confident in the beach day ahead. Buy a sarong or a swimsuit to wear for the first time and let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of the island.

Return from the beach, take a cool shower, relax for a moment, chat on the terrace, and then go out for an ice cream or simply a walk before dinner. Choose one of Sant Francesc’s restaurants for dinner or extend the afternoon into the evening on the terrace, sharing time with your loved ones, enjoying a drink until you fall asleep, or until it’s time to go out and enjoy the night in the square.

Stay in one of the houses we have available for you in Sant Francesc. Choose the one that best suits your needs, whether you’re a large family or a group of friends, or if you prefer a smaller one.

This is practically a private development, with an exclusive access road to the houses. All of them are single-family and independent, very spacious and well-distributed, do not share entrances, and have private parking within the grounds of each house.