Paterna de rivera

Paterna de Rivera is a Spanish municipality in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia. It is located in the region of La Janda, and is part of the Ruta del Toro. It is an eminently agricultural and livestock town, popular for being one of the places where the fighting bull is raised. One theory says that it is the town that gave rise to the flamenco style called petenera.

Geography

In 2016 it had 5,570 inhabitants. Its surface extension is 14 km² and it has a density of 398.14 inhab/km². It is located at an altitude of 127 meters and 45 kilometers from the provincial capital, Cádiz. It is close to Alcalá de los Gazules, Medina Sidonia and Jerez de la Frontera.

History

Despite the fact that remains dating from the Neolithic period have been found in the municipality and that the visits of Roman society to some baths in the term have been confirmed, the foundation of the population occurred in 1503.

The origins of this population are marked by the benefits provided by the medicinal waters of its surroundings. Since Neolithic times, the area was populated by different peoples that have followed one another in the history of Cádiz. In Roman times, the abundance of remains such as mosaics, tombs and, above all, coins from Gades, tells us about the attendance of Cádiz families at the Gigonza baths, close to Paterna de Rivera, a place famous for its medicinal water baths.

After these, Byzantines and Visigoths also visited Paterna de Rivera. The Muslims, after landing on the peninsula, also took advantage of the Fuente Santa and Gigonza baths, in addition to the fertility of the land, baptizing the place Valle de los Baños.

From the Christian conquest, the Paterna de Rivera pasture became the property of the Enrique de Ribera, lords of Medina Sidonia and its district, whose descendants, from D. Per Afán de Ribera in 1444, are developing their hamlet. The definitive foundation of the town of Paterna de Rivera will take place in 1503, by D. Francisco Enrique de Ribera, who erects its Council-Town Hall.

In the 19th century several quite significant events take place. On the one hand, visitors begin to arrive to claim the benignity of the waters of Gigonza and the Fuente Santa during the bathing season, from June to September, thus improving the standard of living of riverside paterneros. On the other hand, the cattle fair is established in September, which adds prestige to cattle production in the area. And, finally, an old aspiration of the residents of Paterna de Rivera is fulfilled, the total emancipation of the Medina City Council in 1825.

Demographics

Graphic of demographic evolution of Paterna de Rivera between 1900 and 2005

Source: Spanish National Statistical Institute - Graphical development by Wikipedia

Economy

Its main activity is livestock, for which it enjoys considerable prestige in the area, especially cattle and horses, especially in the palurdo-retinta breeds in terms of brave cattle (the population is located in the Ruta del Toro), and Hispano-Arabic in what refers to horseback riding.

Evolution of outstanding municipal debt

Development Graphic of Living Debt of the City of Paterna de Rivera between 2008 and 2019

Living debt of the City of Paterna de Rivera in thousands of Euros according to data from the Ministry of Finance and Ad. Public.

Heritage

Monument to La Petenera

• Church of Our Lady of the Inhiesta, of the CenturyXV.
• Monument to the Petenera.
• Tower of the Four Winds.
• Sulfurous waters.

Parties

• Carnival.
  

  Carousel Carnival of Paterna
• Holy Week, with the procession of the Patron Our Lady of the Coronated Solitude.
• Spring Fair in June.
• Youth party, July.
• Doma Vaquera contest, in August.
• Romeria de San Sebastian, in September (in January in recent years).
• Villancicos Villa de Paterna contests, in December.
• Living Bethlehem, in December.

National Song Contest for Peteneras, last Saturday in July.

Gastronomy

Older Centre

Small game hunting stands out in the area (with its own fair). In addition:

• Berza.
• Alcauciles with ham.
• Snails with hinox.
• Caracoles with tomato.
• Holy Week Roscos.
• Sold in sauce.
• Rabbit
• Chicharrones.

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