Tabarca, Spain
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Spain’s Mediterranean islands have come to represent lifestyle and leisure ideals.
You may be familiar with the Balearic Archipelago. Every year, millions of people flock to the islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, wander around whitewashed towns, absorbing untouched beaches, embracing the laid back atmosphere, and for some, indulging in a bit of a party.
A little further south is on another Spanish island that captures much of this Mediterranean magic, and remains almost completely unknown.
Looking at a map of Spain, zoom in to the southeast corner, and pay attention to find a long, narrow land just off the city of Alicante.
The flat, small island of Nuevata Barca stretches 1,800 metres for just over a mile and only 400 metres at its widest point. Around 50 people live on the island all year round, making it the smallest permanent island in Spain.
The lack of Tabarca size is more than making up for its natural and cultural heritage. Its isolation protected it from reckless overdevelopment that hurt most of the nearby Costa Blanca.
But Tabarka is not far away. Officially it is part of Alicante, with a few miles offshore. Several times a day, glass bottom ferries visit visitors from fishing ports in mainland Santa Paula to across narrow waters.
Even this minimal geographical separation gave Tabarka a unique character.
Its distinct character is worthy of the 18th century’s attention. The island’s inhabitants trace their roots hundreds of miles away, not nearby coasts, in a historic story that connects Tabarca with Italy and North Africa.
The Nueva with that name suggests a story.
Between 1500 and 1800, red corals from Tabarca Island on the north coast of Tunisia were respected goods.
In the 16th century, the Genovalomerini family secured concessions from local rulers, where they harvested corals. By the mid-18th century, the settlements were of the origins of around 2,000 people, most of Genoa.
Then there were other plans in Ottomanbey, the current ruler of Tunisia.
In 1741, his troops covered Tabarka, enslaved many of their inhabitants, and sent shockwaves into the Western Mediterranean. The kings of Spain and Sardinia provided sanctuaries to those who fled, paid the ransom and still released their prisoners.
People who arrived in Spain were offered a place to rebuild their lives on a small barren island. Later known as Ira Prana, or Flat Island, it was renamed Nueva Tabarca, reminiscent of their previous home.
The new settlement was not improvisation. In line with the enlightened ideas of the time, military engineers were assigned to lay out accurate urban grids that are still visible today. A wide, straight street crosses at right angles and converges into a central square. The fortified boundary protected the community from Burberry Pirates who regularly raided the Spanish coast.
On the other hand, not all Tavalcians have reached Spain. King Carlo Emmanuel III of Savoy resettled them on the islands of San Peter and Santioco and founded shelter in Sardinia, where the villages of Carlo Forte and Caracetta were founded. Their descendants still speak the “Tabarcino” dialect and maintain a clear culture.
In recent years, efforts have been seen to reconnect the three Tabarthin communities after years of separation. In 2024, about 75 representatives gathered in Pegli, near Genoa, their ancestor home. There is even a story of nominating Tabarchin Saga from UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
That recognition remains distant prospects, but Spain’s Tabarca enjoys other official protections. In 1986 it became Spain’s first marine sanctuary. Two-thirds of the island remained undeveloped and barely pristine. The surrounding waters and adjacent rocks and islands serve as shelter for marine life.
A third of the island is adapted to tourism, with many traditional homes being converted into short-term accommodations for many tourists who escape the talk of Costa Blanca.
Tripper Island, the island
The charm of Tabarca has not been noticed even after crossing the Spanish border.
Maria del Marvarela, Tabarca restaurateur and president of Apeja, the Alicante Hospitality Business Association, tells CNN that international visitors can make up to 80-90% of arrivals.
Most tourists are daytrippers. Around 20 small businesses cater to around 200-250 people, but despite the milder weather of the year, the business is strictly seasonal. “No one will come here in the winter,” she adds.
Visited on a quiet Friday in autumn, and the streets of Tabarka were almost abandoned. Cats soaking in the afternoon sun are far more than many people. (In 2023, it was discovered that there are about twice as many cats on the island with people). The wide, tidy streets, rare in Mediterranean towns, amplified a sense of tranquility.
A few weeks ago, it must have been a different photo.
“At the peak of summer, we could have 6 to 7,000 visitors. On peak days, we could have reached 10,000,” Valera said.
Some locals complain that when tourists leave, the island will disappear from sight. Especially regarding public services.
Carmen Marti, president of the Tabarca Residents Association, is a major complaint that there is a lack of transportation options between November and March, when ferry frequency drops dramatically.
“It’s extremely difficult to live a normal life when you can barely reach the mainland on the same day,” Marti tells CNN. Some older people left due to difficulty in accessing regular medical care.
The association is campaigning to gain similar benefits to the island residents as well as those enjoyed by other Spanish island residents, including public transport guarantees and discounted trips to the mainland.
Martí also supports the deployment of an electronic ticketing system to access the island. This also allows local and local governments to get a clear picture of exactly how many people will visit the island and plan infrastructure and public services accordingly, she says.
Like many Mediterranean destinations, Nuevata Barca is trying to find the right balance between conservation and tourism. In May 2025, the city of Alicante passed a new law to further protect Talvalca’s architectural heritage.
“We are working to preserve the considerable valuable architectural elements of the value that exists on the island,” Jose Manuel Perez, head of the city’s city heritage, tells CNN. “In addition to the historic downtown, we are also evaluating the future use of the island’s fort,” he adds, referring to another singular structure on the island.
The fort tower stands like a lonely sentinel of a half-mile Shurabrand, located in the unmanned part of the island, the only artificial companion of the lighthouse and cemetery.
From there, the high rise of Alicante’s loom on the horizon is a timely reminder that Tabarca will offer something increasingly unusual in the Mediterranean.
