Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Ibiza Puig des Molins Necropolis
AO Edited

Puig des Molins Necropolis

The largest and best preserved necropolis in the Western Mediterranean.

Ibiza, Spain

Added By
Luis Morato
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Punic burial in sarcophagus [5th-4th centuries BC)   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Several types of burials in sarcophagus and displaced into the hypogea   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The Hipogea of the mule   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Centennial olive trees overlook the necropolis   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Skeleton into a fetal position   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Terracotta of the Goddess Astarte and jugs for libation rites.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The building which house the museum   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Decorated ostrich egg   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
bearded funerary mask with painted decorationinted   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Spouted containers identified as baby bottles associated with child burials   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Small glass paste pendants   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Graves   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
rock-cut tombs   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Burial   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The Goddess Tanit   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
A six-month-baby was buried inside this Punic amphora   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Into the hypogea   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
By Dr Chris Stout   drchrisstout / Atlas Obscura User
Archaeological digs are ongoing on the Puig des Molins, even outside of the Museum’s perimeter.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
By Dr Chris Stout   drchrisstout / Atlas Obscura User
View of the Dalt Vila from the Necropolis.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
One of the namesake windmills of the Puig des Molins.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Terracotta idols   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Phoenicians founded the city of Ibiza in the 7th century B.C. in modern-day Spain. Later, the Carthaginians made the island their base of operations for the conquest of ancient Hispania. Both the Phoenicians and Carthaginians buried their dead in places not far from their settlements. So while the walled city of the living grew,  today known as Dalt Vila, some 550 yards away on the nearby hill of Puig des Molins, the city's necropolis also grew. The name Puig des Molins can be loosely translated to "Windmill Hill," so called because windmills covered the hill as far back as the 15th century.

Today, the Puig des Molins Necropolis archaeological complex is adjacent to an accompanying museum highlighting the site's history. The necropolis is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. Estimates put the number of tombs over 3,000, though today only around 300 can be seen. The vast majority of tombs have been absorbed by the growth of the city, spreading as far as Aragon Street.

Many of the graves are from the Punic period, dating from the late 6th to the middle of the 4th century. There are also earlier Roman graves and Muslim ones. Over time, some graves were filled in and locals planted olive trees in the area, some of which are around 400 years old.

The open space in front of the museum is full of burial pits carved from limestone, and there are also niches and hypogea. One of these is the so-called "Hypogea of the Mule," because it was discovered when a mule fell into the tomb.

Ancient and contemporary grave robbers looted many of the burial chambers, piercing the inner walls of a chamber to enter adjacent ones and taking many of the most valuable items. Many of the artifacts left behind are now on display at the local museum.

The construction of the Puig des Molins Monographic Museum began in 1935. But the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War interrupted the project and it was not until 1968 that the museum was finally completed. The museum houses the large collection of objects found in the necropolis and used in funerary worship, such as charms and amulets, aryballos or vials for perfumed oil, lamps, boxes for cosmetics, all kind of pottery,  jugs for libation rites, coins (including the Charon's obol in Roman times), decorated ostrich eggs, tableware for funerary feasts, games pieces, and other objects linked to the protection of the deceased. But perhaps the most important items displayed in the museum are the terracotta figures of Phoenician and Punic gods: Bes, who gave his name to Ibiza (iboÅ¡im, "Dedicated to Bes"), Astarté, and especially Tanit, the goddess of the Earth. Both the necropolis and museum are included in the 1999 list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Related Tags

Graves Paganism Ancient Cults Ancient Phoenician Roman Necropolis Burial Places

Know Before You Go

The visit includes the museum and the necropolis outside. In order to visit the subterranean hypogea work helmets are available for visitors.

Community Contributors

Added By

Luis Morato

Edited By

drchrisstout, linkogecko

  • drchrisstout
  • linkogecko

Published

June 13, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.welcometoibiza.com/ibiza/Necropolis-punica-de-puig-des-molins/
  • https://turismo.eivissa.es/que-ver/visitas-culturales/museos/museo-necropolis-puig-des-molins/
  • https://www.ibiza5sentidos.es/visita-ibiza/necropolis-de-puig-des-molins/
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necr%C3%B3polis_cartaginesas_en_Ibiza
  • https://turismo.eivissa.es/que-ver/visitas-culturales/museos/museo-necropolis-puig-des-molins/
  • https://maef.eu/en/
Puig des Molins Necropolis
31 Via Romana
Ibiza, 07800
Spain
38.90715, 1.429511
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Ibiza's Wall of Fame

Ibiza, Spain

miles away

Bibo Park Ibiza Botánico Biotecnológico

Ibiza, Spain

miles away

Festival Club

Ibiza, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ibiza

Ibiza

Spain

Places 6

Nearby Places

Ibiza's Wall of Fame

Ibiza, Spain

miles away

Bibo Park Ibiza Botánico Biotecnológico

Ibiza, Spain

miles away

Festival Club

Ibiza, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ibiza

Ibiza

Spain

Places 6

Related Places

  • Roman Punic necropolis in the Moroccan coast.

    Tangier, Morocco

    Roman Punic Necropolis

    Ancient Phoenician and Roman tombs carved into the rock overlook the Moroccan coastline.

  • Geer, Belgium

    Les Cinq Tombes (The Five Graves)

    A unique collection of five Roman burial grounds right next to the road.

  • Bonorva, Italy

    Necropolis of Sant'Andrea Priu

    A Nuragic tomb, a Roman tomb, and a Byzantine Church, all hidden inside a rock.

  • The memorial is below ground, and is slowly being overtaken by nature.

    Jarash, Jordan

    Gerald Lankester Harding's Burial Place

    The 20th-century archaeologist was interred among the ruins of an ancient Roman city.

  • The Capitoline Triad at the Rodolfo Lanciani Archaeological Museum.

    Montecelio, Italy

    Capitoline Triad

    This incredible second-century sculpture depicts a trio of gods worshipped by the ancient Romans.

  • Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at night.

    Palestrina, Italy

    Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia

    The city of Palestrina was built around this magnificent terraced sanctuary dedicated to the pagan goddess Fortuna.

  • The Roman gravestone mounted in the wall of the church.

    Herrsching am Ammersee, Germany

    Roman Gravestone

    A carved grave marker from the 2nd century is mounted in the alcove wall of this Bavarian church.

  • Tombs of Darius I the Great, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes, and, Darius II.

    Fars Province, Iran

    Naqsh-e Rustam

    The ancient necropolis houses the immense rock-cut tombs of four Persian kings.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.