SERRA GROSSA IBIZA

Technically, Serra Grossa refers to the island's largest area of unspoilt upland, which lies between the C731, the main road linking Eivissa and Sant Antoni, and the road from Eivissa to Sant Josep. However, the following information applies equally well to the uplands south of Sant Joan and those near Sant Mateu. The typical cover of Ibiza's upland areas is a forest of Aleppo pine, though the pine stands are sometimes interspersed with escaped cultivated trees almond, fig, carob and olive. Aleppo pine has a very thin needle, the easier to survive summer's hot sun, and so casts little shadow.

Beneath it, therefore, numerous flowers and shrubs thrive, the most obvious being Mediterranean heath (Erica multi flora). However, in places where natural or man-made fires have destroyed the forest and overgrazing has impoverished the soil, there are areas of 'degraded' forest where lavender, southern grape hyacinth and various other colorful plants bloom. Lower down the hillsides where ancient cultivated terraces have been allowed to return to the wild, gladioli, chrysanthemums, grape hyacinths and poppies thrive.