Movies under the starry Ibiza sky

I went on Thursday 23rd of June when they were showing Saturday Night Fever and I had a great night watching the 70’s disco classic, but don’t worry if John Travolta in white flares is not your scene; the film changes weekly. Cinema Paradiso is on every Thursday until the end of September and will show such gangster epics as The Godfather, Reservoir Dogs and Scarface as well as indie favourite Little Miss Sunshine and more recent releases The Walk and Sicario. Take a look at the program to choose your film but remember that in this cinema it’s the location and the atmosphere you’re going for as much as the film itself.

Cinema Paradiso is set up on the large stone terrace of Baluard de Sant Pere in Dalt Vila and the surrounding castle walls and battlements make for very atmospheric surroundings, add to that a view out over Ibiza town that only improves as the sun goes down and you have a great location for your viewing. Not happy with the existing attributes of this spot the organisers of Cinema Paradiso have done their best to improve even more upon the site. Fairy lights are strung above the square and twinkle on as the sun goes down. Seating is on bean bag chairs that are low, slouchy, laid back affairs, more like bean bag beds and between each pair is a low table decorated with a sprig of flowers and a candle artistically flickering away inside a paper bag holder. Add to that the sounds and smells of an old-fashioned popcorn machine churning away in the corner next to a fridge of cold drinks and you have a scene which doesn’t need any improving.

Arrive early to pick your seat, although there isn’t really a bad spot, then take a wander around the old walls, watch the sunset and have a chat to the lovely bunch of people who organise and staff this weekly event, they’ll be happy to tell you all about it in the admirable range of languages they have between them.

Your ticket price includes a cone of popcorn and a beer, water or soft drink and the concession stand is also on hand throughout the film to serve additional drinks (€3) or snacks of nachos (€4), edamame beans (€4) and bags of flavoured popcorn (€5) although for me the free salty stuff from the old fashioned machine can't be beaten. Collect your supplies then settle into your seat and enjoy the pre-film playlist of old school tunes until the film starts and then relax and enjoy the film in style. If you need them, decent toilets are located just to the right of the screen.

Quirky as the location is they don’t sacrifice quality for location, the sound and screen quality of the film I saw was excellent and I really had no complaints.

Well just a little one, the night did get quite cold, it was midnight by the time the film had ended and there was a definite chill in the air as well as a layer of dampness that settled over everything. It may have been because it was still June, perhaps in August you’ll need to take a fan with you instead but in the mean time I would strongly recommend taking a jumper, scarf or shawl along with you just in case.

Find the cinema by following the signs for Baluard de Sant Pere, easiest if you enter the walls of Dalt Vila via the Simo Pouet passage just off Placa des Parc, once inside walk left along the walls for a short distance and there you are. Located right next to the cinema spot is the Placa del Sol featuring a couple of lovely little restaurants that are perfect if you wish to enjoy dinner or drinks before the film. Try colourful little S’Escalinata with its scatter cushion seating for cocktails and tapas with a great view.

Head to Cinema Paradiso for a unique and memorable night in beautiful surroundings, definitely a must do for you time here in Ibiza, and hey if you’ve got the space give them a call and they’ll even come and do a private screening for you where ever you like!