Ibros

Nature

The municipal area of Ibros covers 55 km², with flat terrain showing almost no relief, crossed by several streams that run through the territory from south to north to flow into the Guadalimar river. 

Most of its farmland is devoted to olive groves, sloping gradually down towards the Guadalimar river. This river forms the border with the neighbouring municipality of Linares over a significant stretch, which is why Ibros has a considerable area of fertile riverside plain, giving fruit and vegetable farming great importance here too, while also contributing to the town's biological and ecological diversity. 

Along with the numerous species living in the olive groves — some as emblematic as the hoopoe, the red-necked nightjar, the great tit, the hen harrier and the Montagu's harrier — mammals such as the fox, rabbit, genet and deer should also be added. Not forgetting the birds that feed in the olive groves during their long migratory journeys across the peninsula, finding here a nutritious food source to help them regain their strength. 

Alongside the fauna and flora typical of the olive groves, there is also that generated by the Guadalimar river as it passes through the municipality, and by the Giribaile reservoir on this same river. Near the riverbeds, where riparian woodland forms with poplars, willows, tamarisks and birches, an ideal ecosystem is created for species such as the Guadiana barbel-relative fish, the Andalusian barbel, the ladder snake, the grey heron, the European otter, and all the birdlife typical of gallery woodland. 

For this reason, Ibros is a town with a diversity of ecosystems that enrich both its fauna and its flora.

Parties and Events

The main festivals celebrated in Ibros are: 

• San Antón, on 17 January. On this day, "luminarias" (bonfires) are lit in every neighbourhood, around which people sing, dance, eat and drink, enjoying a fun evening. 
• Santobastián. A deeply rooted festival among the people of Ibros, dedicated to San Sebastián on 20 January. It is customary on this day to go out into the countryside for lunch with family and friends. 
• Fair and Festival in honour of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. Held from 2 to 5 May, popularly known as "La Remediadora". Legend has it that the image of the Virgen de los Remedios was found by three residents of Ibros hidden inside a bell buried on an estate in Baeza, now known as "Huerta de la Virgen". Three attempts were made to take the image to Baeza, but miraculously, all failed. It was therefore understood to be the Virgin's wish to remain in the town of Ibros. This festival is celebrated in her honour, with 3 May as the main day of the celebrations. On that day, the Virgin is carried in procession along a route symbolising her transfer to the church from her now-vanished hermitage. 
• San Isidro Labrador. Celebrated on 15 May, a day on which it is also customary to honour San Pascual, who, before taking the Franciscan habit, was a shepherd and carried an image of the Virgin carved into his crook. 
• San Antonio de Padua, on 13 June. Co-patron saint of the town alongside Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. In addition to attending the procession of the image of the Portuguese saint, locals enjoy the "Paloma", a refreshing drink made with water, sugar, aguardiente (anise spirit) and lemon. 
• Fiesta del emigrante (Emigrant's Festival). Held on the first Sunday of August, this relatively recent festival was created for the enjoyment of those who have emigrated and are spending their holidays back in their hometown.

Gastronomy

In the cuisine of Ibros, two ideas are always present: the widespread use of olive oil in most of its dishes, and the use of the resources nature provides locally — vegetables and produce from its market gardens, asparagus, saffron milk-cap mushrooms, or meat from animals raised in the fields and, during hunting season, wild game. 

Among the most traditional dishes are: 

• "Cocido relleno" (stuffed cocido). The signature dish of the town's traditional cuisine, a festive fare served at the lunch celebrating the feast of the patron saint, Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. It is usually made with lamb, pieces of ham, beaten eggs and spices ground in a mortar, such as cinnamon, pepper, cloves, saffron and caraway. All of this is stuffed into a beef casing, which is then simmered together with the traditional chickpea stew of ham bone and chicken. This stuffed dish forms the final course of the festive menu, the first being "sopa hervida" (boiled soup), made with chicken blood and giblets. Dessert consists of "natas", made with milk, wheat starch, sugar and beaten egg yolk, all set in a bain-marie. 
• "Bacalao con tomate" (salt cod with tomato) and "encebollao de bacalao" (salt cod with onions), together with the Holy Week desserts "buñuelos de viento" (light fritters) and "flores de gacha de harina" (flour batter "flowers", fried in an iron mould), make up the typical fare of Holy Week. 
• "Guiñapos", a local version of what elsewhere are called "andrajos" or "harapos": strips of flour dough dropped into a broth made from a sofrito of pepper, onion, tomato and hare meat. 
• "Arroz caldoso" (brothy rice). A typical spring dish, once the vegetable garden begins to bear fruit. In addition to meat, it includes artichokes, potatoes, asparagus and fresh broad beans. 

Among the pastries, notable examples include: 

• "Empanadillas" filled with candied pumpkin ("cabello de ángel"). 
• "El Cuajao", which also contains candied pumpkin, but with the addition of almonds. 
• "Tortas dormidas" ("sleeping cakes"), prepared for the feast of the patron saint. 
• "Gachas dulces" (sweet porridge), eaten on All Saints' Day.

History

According to some authors, this is the ancient "Ibes" or "Ibris" of the Oretani, home to a legendary Iberian king who gave the settlement its name. 

The numerous archaeological remains found in the municipal area show intense human occupation during the Roman period. These are rural villas, among which those of Cortijo del Álamo, the Horcajo area and Corral del Manchego stand out, the latter also home to a small necropolis. 

From the Islamic period, two inscriptions have been found in the town. The first is a funerary stone dated to 1205, now held at the National Archaeological Museum; the second, dated to the 12th century, is kept at the Provincial Museum of Jaén. 

The Christians took the town in 1157, but it fell back into Arab hands until it was definitively conquered by Ferdinand III the Saint. 

Following the Castilian conquest, it was divided into two jurisdictions: 

• "Ibros del Rey" (Ibros of the King), as crown land, and 
• "Ibros del Señorío" (Ibros of the Lordship), as it belonged to the Duke of Santisteban. 

This division shaped the layout of the town, with two distinct areas: "Ibros del Rey", around the parish church and Town Hall, with noble ashlar-stone houses and cobbled streets; and "Ibros del Señorío", a picturesque, working-class quarter reflecting its origins among families of lower economic standing. 

In 1836, Carlist forces operating in La Mancha were repelled at Ibros. Its fortress was mentioned by Sarthou in his work "Castillos de España" (Castles of Spain), noted for its cyclopean walls.