Near the Haza del Lino there is a path that leads down to Rubite, a village perched on the Sierra de la Contraviesa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It is a typical town of La Alpujarra, with its intricate and steep streets and its houses blended in perfectly with their rugged terrain.
Here you can enjoy both the mountains and the sea, as the village is just 15 kilometres from the coast but other villages in the municipality extend as far as the Mediterranean Sea. Of the many interesting sights in the area two deserve a special mention, namely Casarones and El Lance, where two of the most secluded beaches of the entire region are located.
In Rubite three Almohad rain tanks, with an interesting wheel of unquestionable archaeological value, are preserved. They date back to the 12th century and are located in different parts of the town. Next to one of them is the Loma del Aljibe viewpoint, from where you can enjoy stunning views over the sea and the Sierra Nevada.
The origin of this town can be traced back to the Roman period, as its name is derived from the Latin term ‘rubus’ (meaning ‘blackberry’). However, the oldest remains found in the area date back to the Moorish period.
In the Nasrid period the village was part of the Taha de Suhayl, which was later called Pequeño Cehel. At this time its agricultural production thrived: small gardens and crops were watered by springs and specially-constructed watering systems. After the Reconquista the village was almost totally depopulated and fell under the jurisdiction of Albuñol, and was bought by Luis Zapata y Portocarrero from the queen Joanna the Mad.
In the 17th century permission was given for the land and houses in the region to be sold to farmers, though payments still went to the Conde de Cifuentes. The decline in grape production in the 19th century made almonds the principal local crop.
The area has many vineyards, and fig and almond trees. Rubite has a very varied cuisine: you can taste seafood specialties – such as the Sopa zalamandroña with herring and pumpkin – and dishes typical of the inland, such as Migas, different types of stews and goat with garlic. Good desserts include pumpkin syrup and fig bread.
