Ribera Alta: Holiday Rental, Culture and Hiking

Ribera Alta lies on the left bank of the Río Frailes. In La Mesa, the Río Frailes and the Arroyo de la Fuente meet. The origins of Ribera Alta are associated with a small plateau flanked by an escarpment, a river and a stream.

Archaeology and History

La Mesa is designated as an archaeological zone with the protected status of Bien de Interés Cultural. La Mesa was inhabited from the Copper Age until the Roman invasion. The continuous settlement of La Mesa provides archaeological evidence of social and economic changes spanning more than three millennia. The period covered therefore extends from the Copper Age into the era of the Roman invasion.

Culture

The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista in Ribera Alta dates from 1789. The San Juan patron saint's festival includes the Quema de la Bruja. During this event, a witch effigy is lowered from the bell tower of the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista to a bonfire. The procession in honour of San Juan Bautista passes through narrow streets to the vicinity of the Río Velillos and then returns to the church.

Spas

The historic spas of Ribera Alta used hydrogen sulfide-rich waters and operated until the first decades of the 20th century. The historic Balneario de la Rivera was located between Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja and comprised eight houses for visitors.

Ribera Alta thus offers several clearly distinct points of interest: La Mesa represents archaeology and a long settlement history, San Juan Bautista church architecture and festival traditions, and the spas a clearly defined historical period of use. The cultural themes and the circular hike can be considered separately for your planning.

Getting There

Ribera Alta can be reached via the A-403 and JA-4302 roads.

For planning purposes, the historic sites and the route can be considered separately: La Mesa, the church and the spas represent different historical periods, while the Ruta del Río Velillos describes a clearly designated circular route through the river surroundings.

Hiking

The Ruta del Río Velillos starts in Ribera Alta and is designated as a 10.4-kilometre circular hike. The route is officially certified by the Federación Nacional de Montaña. It crosses the Río Velillos several times. It runs on paths near or along the Arroyo del Salobral, the Arroyo Palancares and, in particular, the Río Velillos. The Ruta passes the spring of Cortijo del Baño and then climbs to viewpoints overlooking the riverbed and Ribera Alta. The route therefore connects several named watercourses, the starting point in Ribera Alta, the spring of Cortijo del Baño and the subsequent ascent to the aforementioned viewpoints.

For the broader travel overview: Jaen.