Romans vs Carthaginians Tomato Fight Event Review

Ostensibly a battle re-enactment of the Punic wars deep in Ibizan history, this event does not take itself too seriously and its historic origins are vastly overshadowed by its modern day popularity. It is quite simply a chance for neighbouring towns Sant Antoni (the Carthaginians) and Sant Augusti (the Romans) to dress-up and pelt each other with tomatoes in front of a large, bemused crowd before everyone enjoys a beach party late into the night.

This year, the battle was held on Saturday 3rd September although much preparation work was done on the Friday, when craft in workshops were set up so adults and children alike could make their costumes and shields for the coming battle. Come Saturday at 18:00, the opposing armies gathered at different points in the town of Sant Antoni before parading in full battle dress to the beach of S’Arenal in San An centre. The opposing armies took up their positions on either side of the battlefield, which was clearly marked out with a no man's land roped off in the middle. On either side of the centre stood several huge wooden bins filled with thousands of ripe tomatoes, soldiers stood back from these bins poised and awaiting the order to advance.

Spectators lined the arena, packed in along the promenade and at both ends trying to get the best view of the action and, at 20:00, just as the sun was setting beautifully behind the beach, the horn blew and tomato-y hell was unleashed!

At the sound of the horn, both armies rushed at the tomato bins and tried to gain as much ammunition as possible. Holding up their home-made shields of cardboard and wood, the soldiers advanced as close to their foes as they dared before letting rip with their tomato grenades. The red bullets soon flew in both directions, bursting on contact with the sand and the crowd as often as they did an enemy target. Spectators soon discovered their mistake and began pulling back from the field of battle, whilst more than one canine spectator tried to invade the battle zone and snag a tomato treat.

An outsider would assume that there was an end game in progress, that the opposing armies would seek to advance into each other's turf and perhaps claim a victory by surrounding a landmark or army general, but no, due to the ropes dividing the battlefield and separating the two armies, advance was not an option, nor were soldiers removed from battle when hit leaving the last team standing the victor.

No, indeed, it quickly became apparent that there was no end game at all and very few rules beyond throwing as many tomatoes as possible at as many people as possible in the allotted time. This the soldiers did with admirable energy for over 30 minutes, releasing tomato after tomato into their enemies with war-like yells and shrieks. Some fought alone, whilst others formed groups protecting or sacrificing each other as the situation required. Costumes quickly deteriorated, cardboard helmets and white togas being no match for tomato juice, and it was a bedraggled crowd that remained once the horn sounded again. Warriors and spectators alike cheered hard at the end of the battle, both sides appeared to think they were the victors and, since no one announced otherwise, everyone was happy.

The battle-weary folk trooped into the sea to wash off the blood of their enemies amidst bobbing tomatoes that had flown wide of their targets. Now it was the turn of the children, who took to the tomato-strewn beach to begin their own battles, scooping up fallen shields and throwing burst toms as bravely as their parents before them, a new generation of Romans and Carthaginians in training.

This being Ibiza, of course the party didn’t end there. A huge stage had been constructed for live bands to occupy throughout the night and bars and barbeques were on hand to offer refreshment to the weary warriors. Carnival rides, games, candy floss stalls and hot dog huts had popped up along the promenade, and the evening turning into one long tomato scented fiesta.

Officially one of the oddest and funniest events in Ibiza, the annual Sant Bartomeu Tomato Fight is well worth putting on your calendar. A community-organised, family-friendly event unlike anything else on the island, all you have to decide is which side you’re on.