How Was Life in Ibiza Before Tourism? Sant Antoni Invites Older Residents to Share Their Memories

10. November 2026

How did people live in Sant Antoni before tourism transformed the municipality? What were the traditional occupations, celebrations, customs and everyday routines that shaped village life during the 1960s and 1970s?

Sant Antoni de Portmany Town Hall is inviting people aged 65 and over to help answer these questions through a new oral-history initiative, La teua història de vida a Sant Antoni de Portmany. Organised through the municipality's Social Services department, the workshop will bring together older residents to share personal experiences and photographs, helping preserve memories of a period that marked a major transformation in the local community.

The project will take place over two afternoon sessions in November, with a maximum of 16 participants.

Recovering the Memories of Sant Antoni in the 1960s and 1970s

The workshop will use each participant's personal history as a starting point for exploring the wider story of Sant Antoni.

Through conversations, old photographs and meaningful personal objects, participants will revisit memories of childhood, family life, traditional occupations, local celebrations and relationships within the community.

The sessions will also explore how the municipality changed during the decades when tourism began reshaping the island, including the social and urban transformations experienced by residents.

Each participant will create an individual life timeline, using important experiences and moments from their own history to build a personal account of life in Sant Antoni.

The aim is to bring these individual stories together to create a broader picture of the municipality's collective memory.

Old Photographs Will Be Brought to Life with Artificial Intelligence

Photography will play an important role in the project.

Participants are asked to bring one or two old printed photographs that evoke positive personal memories. These images will provide a starting point for conversations about the people, places and experiences that have shaped their lives.

Each participant will receive a personal timeline, a memory notebook and an old photograph animated using artificial intelligence.

The project will also have a collective audiovisual result. Video editor Julia Pelufo will bring together photographs and stories shared during the sessions to create a video documenting what life was like in Sant Antoni during the 1960s and 1970s.

The material will offer a personal perspective on the municipality's history, told by people who experienced those decades themselves.

A Workshop Promoting Active Ageing and Social Connections

Beyond its historical purpose, the initiative forms part of Sant Antoni Town Hall's work to encourage active and healthy ageing.

The sessions are designed to stimulate autobiographical memory, encourage social interaction and strengthen participants' self-esteem and sense of belonging.

By creating a space for older residents to share their experiences and listen to one another, the project also aims to help prevent unwanted loneliness.

The workshop will be led by journalist Alba Olmedo, who has extensive experience volunteering with older people.

Dates, Location and Registration

The workshop is open to people aged 65 and over, with places limited to 16 participants.

Registration must be completed in person at the Club de l'Associació de Persones Majors de Sant Antoni, located in the Es Clot Marès building.

Registration dates: Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 November 2026

Registration hours: 10:00 to 12:30

Workshop dates: Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2026

Workshop hours: 16:30 to 18:30

Venue: Club de l'Associació de Persones Majors de Sant Antoni, Es Clot Marès, Sant Antoni de Portmany

Places: 16 participants

What to bring: One or two old printed photographs that hold personal meaning.

Workshop facilitator: Alba Olmedo

Audiovisual project: Julia Pelufo

Further information is available through the Espai Jove.

By collecting memories directly from the people who experienced them, Sant Antoni hopes to preserve a valuable part of its local history and document how everyday life changed before and during the transformation brought by tourism.

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