Paterna del Rio Travel Guide

Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Paterna del Rio is located on the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada, very close to the port of La Ragua. It is composed of four neighbourhoods: La Placeta, Barrio Alto, Fuente del Castaño and Barrio de los Castillos. All these areas have preserved the characteristic features of their Moorish origins.

During the Rebellion of the Alpujarras, in February 1569, the victory of the Marquis of Mondéjar over 4,000 Moorish rebels took place. After the defeat, Aben Humeya, leader of the rebellion, fled to Paterna del Rio. When he was besieged, he fled to the mountains, leaving behind his wife, his mother and his sisters, who were captured by the royal troops. After these events, the town was repopulated with 100 Christians from Castile and Galicia. The origin of Paterna was the work of the monarch Philip II, who united several Arab neighbourhoods that were scattered.

Paterna del Rio offers the opportunity to benefit from medicinal baths for those who come to the Fuente Agria. There is a spring of underground, sulphurous and ferruginous waters, which provide it with healing properties that have been highly appreciated since the Middle Ages.

At present, the population of this municipality is dedicated to developing agricultural projects that include crops of apples, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds and olives. Boosting the tourism sector is another important source of income for this peaceful town.