Paterna is widely known by its pseudonym, the “Valley of the Baths”. Its evolution as a town can be traced back to the people who came and went, for centuries, in pursuit of the curative effects of its waters. Archaeological findings revealed fossil remains and artifacts dating back to Roman times, and earlier.
Gigonza and Fuente Santa are two of its famous baths.
Enriquez de Ribera, lord of large estates at Alcala owned Paterna after it was conquered by Christian conquestadores. Ribera’s descendants improved on the area and the town was formally founded in 1503 when Enriquez built a town hall, thus the name, “Paterna de Rivera”. Though already a town, it was still attached to the town of Alcala where the Riberas held ownership. It was only in 1825 when it was finally liberated from Alcala.
