Vites: Olive Groves, Distillery and Zumeta

Between Olive Groves and Canyon Landscapes

Vites lies in a landscape where holm oaks and pines mingle with olive groves at higher elevations. At the same time, the village is one of the small settlements along the valley into which the Zumeta River emerges after passing through a rugged canyon. Orchards surround Vites and complete the picture of a distinctly rural setting.

Traditional Specialties Shaped by a Long Craftsmanship Tradition

Vites is known for the traditional production of aguardiente, orujo, mistela and homemade wine according to time-honored recipes. In the wider surroundings of Vites, large, sweet white grapes are grown and used to distill a potent aguardiente. Aguardiente from Vites is used to make traditional liqueurs such as pacharán and mistela. A traditional lavender distillery is still operating in the village today. Anyone interested in local production will find wine and liqueur, grape cultivation and lavender distillation here.

Traces Preserved in the Villagescape

Vites has a quiet area with a public washhouse. The remains of an old olive mill have also been preserved in the village streets. Another specific site is the shrine to the Virgen Milagrosa: a small statue of the Virgin stands in a brick niche with a gabled roof. Festival traditions are also part of village life, as Vites is one of the settlements in Santiago-Pontones with traditional festivities. The washhouse, olive mill remains, Marian niche and festivals are therefore among the traces of the village that have been preserved.

Zumeta, Viewpoint and Regional Vistas

In the wider region around Vites lies the Zumeta viewpoint, also called Salto de la Novia, on the road leading north from Santiago de la Espada. Among the birds living at the Zumeta viewpoint are griffon vultures, golden eagles and peregrine falcons. From there, the wider region around Vites offers views of the Poyos de Mesa plateau and the first foothills of Castile-La Mancha, particularly in the province of Albacete. The Zumeta River, also known as Río Chico, forms the boundary between the two regions in the wider surroundings of Vites; willows, elms and poplars, among other trees, grow along its banks.

Routes to Named Landscape Sites

The road from Santiago de la Espada to Juntas de Miller reaches Vites via a two-kilometre left-hand turnoff. At the edge of Vites, a road leads uphill to the left towards Prado Moro. In the wider surroundings of Vites, a centuries-old holm oak stands near Prado Moro. From Vites, you can also continue towards Cortijo del Torcal.

Further places in the same destination: Cuevas De Ambrosio, Marmolejo, Ribera Alta, Beas De Segura, Pozo Alcón, Virgen De La Cabeza, Sabariego, Villacarrillo.

To the main travel overview: Jaen.