The village of San Fernando in the heart of the island is blessed with a lovely main square and an 18th Century church. It is where the hippy movement of the island began and today has several good restaurants and bars and an animated night market.
The village
Surrounded by vineyards and farmhouses, San Fernando is a charming and more peaceful place to spend awhile when you need more quiet. Its square is the perfect foil to the activity of nearby Es Pujols and is where you will find the church, which unusually has a largely unpainted sandstone exterior. It is at night when the place really comes alive, with most of the action taking place in the square and around, with the music of the regular market and some lively bars around it.
The perfect spot to while away some time in a bar or restaurant terrace, San Fernando also offers a few low key hostals and apartments, from where you can easily explore the rest of Formentera as it is the geographic centre of the island. There are also several banks and small shops here.
Eating and drinking
You will find a number of restaurants and bars, many serving Mediterranean and local dishes, some of which have gained very good repute for the quality of the food. Perhaps the most famous of the restaurants is Fonda Pepe, which first opened in the ‘60s and which remains the centre of the island's hippy culture. Pink Floyd came here and Bob Dylan was a regular, whiling away many the hour playing chess.
Artisan market
The village is known for its artisan market that runs every day from May to October (apart from Wednesdays and Sundays), from 20:30 until midnight. Live music and food is also on offer and you will see the bars and restaurants full of locals and tourists during summer. The market is a big focal point for the local craftsmen, artists, painters and sculptors who display and sell their works here. Go to enjoy a buzzing atmosphere that's alive with colour and sound.
