Portal de ses Taules

Two massive stone statues stand guard in wall niches flanking the entrance of the Portal de ses Taules. This is the main gateway into Dalt Vila, the fortified old town of Ibiza. Built in the late sixteenth century, the gate features the imperial coat of arms of Philip the Second carved into the stone above the archway. Soldiers once operated a wooden drawbridge here to control access, crossing a dry moat that protected the city from Mediterranean invaders and frequent pirate raids.