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Jimera de
Líbar AREA: 27,10 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 539 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 1159 l/m² AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 15’1 ºC POPULATION CENSUS 1994: 453  
Jimera de Libar is on the left margin of the Guadiaro river, facing the Sierra de Líbar, in the Ronda highland. The major part of its lands, which extend over both sides of the Guadiaro valley present a rugged landscape, of hills covered in holm-oaks, cork-oaks, and thickets which climb the white rocks of the sierra. The rest of the municipality, between the mouth of the river and the town, is formed by a stretch of smoother lands covered with olives, cereals and some small irrigated areas on the banks. Although the historical data about Jimera de Líbar is scarce, the findings in the EL Tesoro estate, at about 4 kilometres from the main town (there is a smaller nucleus in the Estación del ferrocarril - train station), prove that there was a settlement here in the Phoenician era, and an uninterrupted presence henceforth. A necropolis was found in the previously mentioned estate, with pieces of ceramics and jewels belonging to a funereal dowry. There are hardly any signs of the Arab’s presence, but we know that in that era the town was called Inz Almaraz, which was changed to Ximera de Libar after the Christian conquest. This name appears on a stone of the public fountain, dated in 1789. The parish church must have been built over a mosque as the form of the tower’s minarets seem to testify. Jimera de Libar is the head of a marquisate created by Carlos III in 1684.
The town rises on a hill of the sierra’s side, so the whitewashed houses with plinth, go up and down narrow and windy streets, fitting to this area of the highland. Its singular building is the parish church, which rises in the railway suburb. The estate of the Tesoro is also a place to visit in the surroundings.
The handicraft activities have little relevance, except some works with reedmace and palm.
The local cooking has an important relation to the hunting period. In the spring, asparagus is the base of many culinary creations; in the winter there is honey porridge, and breadcrumbs fried with garlic. All year round there is vinager soup. The confectionery creations are especially exquisite, sush as meringues, large rusks, crackling tarts and cakes made with oil.
The major festivities in honour of the patron saint, the Virgen de la Salud, take place from the 6th to the 8th of August, whereas at the end of May they celebrate a pilgrimage in the Station suburb. Easter is another festivity to bear in mind.
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History and Landscape
Places to visit
Shopping
Gastronomy
Festivities and traditions