Jimera de Líbar

Location

Serranía de Ronda

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Interesting Facts of Jimera de Líbar

Surface Area: 27.1 square kilometres

Population: 453

What the natives are called: Jimeranos

Outstanding Visits: parish church, Finca del Tesoro archaeological site, and the surrounding natural areas

Geographical Location: in the Ronda highlands, in the middle of the River Guadiaro valley. The village is 26 kilometres from Ronda and sits at an altitude of 540 metres. The area records abundant rains, with the average annual rainfall being 1,160 litres per square metre, and the average temperature is 15º C.

Although the River Guadiaro’s lowest stretch runs through the territory of Cádiz it is one of the symbols of the Ronda highlands as its headwaters are here and along its course it waters several municipalities, among them Jimera de Líbar, whose lands would be very different indeed without the backbone provided by the Guadiaro.

Jimera de Líbar’s municipal area exhibits a very broken topography, as befits a highland zone. The most rugged areas are covered with evergreen oaks, cork oaks and brush, while those that lie between the village and the river abound with olive trees–actually these are distributed wherever they can best be cultivated-and grain fields. In general, the special climactic conditions in these surroundings favour the growth of those species that make up the Mediterranean woodland.

The municipality has two population centres: the village proper, which is located in the upper part, and the neighbourhood of La Estación, some four kilometres from the other community and through which passes the Bobadilla-Algeciras railroad.

It is a safe supposition, given the proximity of Cueva de la Pileta (La Pileta cave) in the municipality of Benaoján, that there must have been human settlements in the Jimera de Líbar area in the Neolithic period, but there are no remains to point to as proof of this theory. There have been remains discovered some four kilometres from the village at Finca del Tesoro, however, of what must have been a Phoenician necropolis, judging by ceramic pieces and some burial jewels that have been recovered. The Romans also travelled through this area, as is proven by the fact that one stretch of the road that linked the city of Acinipo with the plain of Gibraltar passed through Jimera de Líbar.

Apparently the village’s name derives from the Arabic "Inz Almaraz", meaning "woman’s castle". No ruins of any castle have been found, but there is proof of the existence of an ancient Muslim cemetery under the foundation of the modern church. The village passed into Christian hands in 1485 and the conquerors changed the former name to Ximera de Líbar, as it appears on a stone of the public fountain that is dated 1789.

Road Directions

If you are coming from the Costa del Sol take the AP-7 (N-340) expressway and at Manilva (the last municipality in the western zone of the province of Málaga) take the A-377 in the direction of Ronda. When you get to Gaucín the road will change its designation to the A-369 and you must continue on it through Algatocín and Benadalid to Atajate and the MA-508 turning, which leads to Jimera de Líbar. From Ronda, take the A-369 to Atajate, and from that village, as previously explained, the MA-508 leads to Jimera de Líbar.

Full graphical path: http://bit.ly/ub7nWS

Tourist Info

Jimera de Líbar
Ayuntamiento, C/ Fontana, 8
Jimera De Líbar
Málaga
29392

Tel: +34 952 18 00 04

Fax: +34 952 18 01 07

Send an email

Website:

Informacion

Socios

What to See in Jimera de Líbar

The church in the La Estación neighbourhood was built, it is believed, over a former mosque, since the minaret-like shape of its towers is clear evidence of the Arabic influence in its design. In the village itself, which sits on the slopes of the mountain range, it is easy to perceive the Moorish heritage in its winding streets, with many ups and downs that, while they can present some difficulty to a person who is not used to steep inclines, do have the advantage of affording views of magnificent mountain landscape.

A visit to Finca del Tesoro, located 4 kilometres from the village centre, will take the visitor back in time to the Phoenician origin of the village, although in this case, as with so many other archaeological sites, it is only the archaeologists that can really make sense of some finds from the seventh and sixth centuries B. C. A necropolis has been unearthed in this estate. Interestingly enough, pottery and jewels typical of a burial site have been found as well.

Visitors to Jimera de Líbar will enjoy a visit to Molino La Flor, an old water mill leaning on the remains of a Roman bridge. The mill is set in an unbelievably beautiful spot and has been converted to accommodate tourists.

In the La Fuente neighbourhood, travellers will find a public fountain (the Spanish word "fuente" means "fountain") built in 1789.

From Alta or Fontana Streets, you can get to the Cruz de Ventura, a place affording stunning views of the municipality and all the Guadiaro river valley.

One kilometre away from the railway station there is Venta del Rey, in which there is a chapel and a boy scout camp.

Tourist Info

Jimera de Líbar
Ayuntamiento, C/ Fontana, 8
Jimera De Líbar
Málaga
29392

Tel: +34 952 18 00 04

Fax: +34 952 18 01 07

Send an email

Website:

Informacion

Socios

Jimera de Líbar’s Fiestas and Gastronomy

The village celebrates its patroness fiestas in honour of the Virgen de la Salud (Virgin of Health) in August. The religious ceremony begins with the transfer of the image of the Virgin from the La Estación neighbourhood to the village, where it travels through the main streets. With the services completed it is time for fun, with a series of events noteworthy for dances and competitions that hardly any villager will ever miss.

On All Saints’ Day in November, the villagers celebrate the "tostón", which consists of roasting massive quantities of chestnuts that are then eaten accompanied by some beverage. Foreign traditions are taking root in Jimera de Líbar, especially among the young. Such is the case of the Dead Night and Halloween, when horror decorations dominate the village. The carnival in February and the Candelaria celebration on Christmas Eve are two other important dates on the local holiday calendar, as are the Virgen de la Salud pilgrimage in May and the Las Cruces pilgrimage in June, with its ascent to La Cruz Ventura.

Jimera de Líbar’s
Gastronomy

Local gastronomy uses game meat, vegetables and fruit and varies with the season of the year and the weather. Seasonal dishes are mushrooms (fall), wild asparagus (rainy season), and golden thistle, fennel and young green shoots of bladder campion (spring). This village’s gastronomy is defined by very highly seasoned foods, especially in winter, in contrast to lighter dishes in spring and summer. Cocidos (stews), migas (a dish made from fried bread crumbs), tortillas de tagarninas or tortillas de espárragos trigueros (omelets of golden thistle or wild asparagus, respectively), sopas de vinagre (vinegar soups), marmitón (stew) sopas de vinagre (a soup made from tomato, pepper, onion, cucumber, salt, vinegar, olive oil), and malcocinao (stews) make up this municipality’s most traditional gastronomic offer, and in summer it has its own version of gazpacho (a cold soup). Outstanding confectionery products, all homemade, are miel de romero sobre hojuelas (fritters with syrup), roscos de vino (spiral pastries, in this case made with wine), roscones (a similar pastry), huevos nevaos (an egg pastry), suspiros (a pastry made with eggs, sugar and flour) and magdalenas (small pastries baked in a mould). Mistela (a fortified wine) and zarzaparrilla (sarsaparilla) are two indigenous beverages.