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These baths used to be part of the Mosque of the Walnut Tree (Mezquita del Nogal) which previously stood here. They were built in the 11th century and are considered to be among the oldest and most complete baths in Spain. This was a traditional meeting for place for locals, who would come here for haircuts and massages. There were different times for men and women, who would seldom leave their homes (except for a weekly visit to the cemetery and a once or twice monthly visit to the baths). Brides-to-be would also come here before their weddings. |
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You enter the baths
through a small house
which was reconstructed in Christian times. At the end of a small hallway
(zaguán), there is a courtyard with a pool (alberca) and from
here
you can access the baths themselves, with their three rooms: cool room,
(sala de refresco), central room (sala central) and finally, the
hot room
(sala caliente). The columns were taken from Roman and Visigothic ruins
and the octagonal or star-shaped holes in the roof allowed light
to enter
and steam to escape. They also reduced the weight of the roof. |
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