Puig de Missa is a hilltop quarter and architectural ensemble in Santa Eulària des Riu, on the east coast of Ibiza. At the highest point of the 52-metre hill stands the town's parish church, a fortified building from the 16th century whose thick whitewashed walls were built to double as a refuge from raids from the sea. A cemetery lies beside the church, and the hill looks out over the town below.
Puig de Missa Hilltop Church
Fortified 16th-century church on the 52-metre hill of Puig de Missa, with a cemetery and views over Santa Eulària des Riu
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance; the church stands at the top of a hill, so the approach is uphill.
- Parking
- Two car parks, about 135 m and 230 m from the church in a straight line.
- Difficulty
- An uphill walk to the top of a 52-metre hill; the nearest car park is about 135 m away and the bus stop about 200 m, both in a straight line.
- Transport
- Bus stop Policia Municipal, about 200 m from the church.
- Hours
- Daily, 9:00–18:00.
- Address
- Camí Puig de Misa, 0 S/N, 07840 Santa Eulària des Riu, Illes Balears, Spain
What makes it special
White walls with hardly a window in them, a rounded bastion on one side and a deep arched porch at the front: the church on top of Puig de Missa was built in the 16th century to shelter the parish as well as serve it, in the years when raiders came in from the sea. Stand by the porch and Santa Eulària des Riu spreads out below.
Give the cemetery beside the church some time. Its graves and walls belong to the same ensemble as the church, and the old houses gathered around the top make up the rest of the hill.
Good to know
- The visit is the church, the cemetery and the view over the town; there is little else to see on the hill.
- There is no drinking water nearby. In summer, bring your own for the walk up.
- The church entrance is wheelchair-accessible, but reaching it means getting up the hill first.
Getting there
Puig de Missa rises out of Santa Eulària des Riu itself, so the approach ends on foot, uphill to the top of the 52-metre hill. The nearest bus stop, Policia Municipal, is about 200 m from the church in a straight line. Drivers have two car parks within reach, about 135 m and 230 m away in a straight line; from either one, the last stretch goes up the hill on foot. A guidepost and an information board stand by the church at the top.
Best time to visit
Best: late afternoon, before the church closes for the day. Avoid: the middle of the day in July and August.
The walk up is hot work under a high summer sun, and the lower light later in the day falls across the white walls and over the town below.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Featured in our guides
Your whole travel map in one place
Get inspired by new places around the world and find the ones worth the journey
Frequently asked questions
Why does the church on Puig de Missa look like a fortress?
It was built as one. The 16th-century church was fortified so that it could also serve as a refuge, which explains the thick walls and the bastion.Can I get to Puig de Missa by bus?
Yes. The Policia Municipal stop is about 200 m from the church in a straight line, and the rest is a walk up the hill.Is there parking near the church?
There are two car parks about 135 m and 230 m away in a straight line. From either, you finish the climb on foot.Is the church wheelchair-accessible?
The entrance is wheelchair-accessible. The church stands on top of a hill, though, so the approach goes uphill.What else is there on the hill besides the church?
A cemetery beside the church, a cluster of old houses around the top and a view over Santa Eulària des Riu.