Ribera Alta: La Mesa and the Ruta del Río Velillos

River setting and archaeological traces

Ribera Alta lies on the left bank of the Río Frailes. The origins of the settlement are associated with a small plateau. This plateau was flanked by an escarpment, a river and a stream. La Mesa lies at the confluence of the Río Frailes and the Arroyo de la Fuente. La Mesa is designated as an archaeological zone. Its protection status is 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 over more than three millennia. The waterside location, the plateau and the long settlement history are therefore among the defining geographical references of Ribera Alta.

Church and festival tradition

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

Thermal baths between Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja

The historic thermal baths of Ribera Alta used hydrogen sulphide-rich waters. They remained in operation until the first decades of the 20th century. The historic Balneario de la Rivera was located between Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja. It comprised eight houses for visitors. The history of the thermal baths therefore includes both the nature of the waters used and the period during which they operated, as well as the former location between the two settlements.

Hiking along the Río Velillos

For your day planning, the Ruta del Río Velillos is listed as 10.4 kilometres long. It is designated as a circular hike. The route begins in Ribera Alta. It is officially approved by the Federación Nacional de Montaña. The Ruta del Río Velillos crosses the Río Velillos several times. The route passes the source of the Cortijo del Baño. It then climbs to viewpoints over the riverbed and Ribera Alta. The route runs through the riverscape on paths near or along the Arroyo del Salobral. Its paths also run near or along the stream at the Arroyo Palancares. In particular, along the Río Velillos, the trail runs near or along the river. The starting point, circular format, length, approval and multiple references to waterways describe the essential details of the hike's course.

Accessibility

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

Other places

Also discover: Los Villares, Chilluévar, La Iruela, El Parralejo, Huesa, Torres De Albánchez, Baeza, Puente De Génave

To the higher-level travel overview: Jaen.