Moorish Baths (Hammam) One of the most relaxing traditions of Moorish Spain, especially in Andalucía were the baths (hammam). With so many years of Moorish rule and culture, the city of Granada was a natural starting point for the return of this long lost custom. As the story goes, the traditional Moorish baths (hamman) were banned by the Christians as they took over southern Spain. And not surprisingly, to the cultured and hygienic Arabs, the Christian invaders were less than clean. The Moorish baths (hamman) were traditionally a place to both wash and socialise, involving relaxed meetings, enveloped in steam, with soft music playing, and the overhead light seeping through the vault skylights. Rather than relying on a quick shower or even just a simple bath, a visit to the Moorish baths (hamman) meant setting a mat on the tiled floor and basking in a steamy environment that makes it easy to exfoliate the entire body with a tiny rough cloth. This method of bathing and cleansing is considered to be far superior to the so called western notion of using soap or gel to simply take off superficial dirt and oil. Nowadays, in several locations across Andalucía, the Moorish style baths are once again opening to the public, with the city of Granada being the first to return the tradition to the area and offering some of the most luxurious facilities in the region. There are now also Moorish baths (hammams) located in the cities of Córdoba, Jerez de la Frontera, Málaga, Sevilla as well as Granada and here is a selection of them: Hammam al Andalus (Granada) Hammam al Andalus (Granada) is by far the most atmospheric and also the only genuinely historical hammam still in use in Andalucía. Parts of the building were at one time used as a bath house and a well (which served the adjoining mosque, now the Church of Santa Ana) before it was converted into a bakers after the re-conquest of the city by the Catholic Kings. The entrance is through a low, stone-arched doorway into a tiny, wooden balconied courtyard draped with hanging plants. Once inside, there is a series of pools lined with highly decorative tiles and there is an icy dip after which a massage is possible (as an optional extra) with everything be finishing up with a refreshing, sugary mint tea. Aire de Sevilla (Sevilla) The Aire de Seville baths are housed in an amazing 16th-century palace in the heart of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, Sevilla’s UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected old quarter. One of the largest hammam in Spain, it offers more or less the traditional Arab hammam experience, with a salt water bath, a steam room, and a large, high-ceiling, almost swimming pool-sized, room consisting of a warm bath, a hot bath, and a cold bath. Following which, emerge into the light of a plant-filled patio lined with lattice-covered windows and a bubbling fountain, where tea and Moroccan-style sweets are served. Hammam al Andalus (Córdoba) In keeping with a city that was once the centre of Al-Andalus, Córdoba is now home to the largest hammams in Europe, located just around the corner from the mighty Mezquita. The sister operation to the baths in the city of Granada, start with a blissful sequence of drifting from one pool to the next for an hour and a half or so, broken up only by a massage and a cup or two of sweet tea. Hammam Andalusi (Jerez de la Frontera) Along with the neighbouring city of Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera is so often not included the trio of most-visited historic Andalucian cities that Sevilla, Granada and Córdoba are. Which is a shame, really, as it has a handsome Moorish castle-palace complex, a crumbling cathedral, an interesting gypsy quarter and flamenco scene, the wonderful sherry bodegas and a really lovely hammam going for it. Tucked away down a narrow street in the attractive city centre, the hammam itself falls somewhere between the larger offerings of Córdoba and Sevilla and the more bijou baths of Málaga. Specialities include an offering for couples of a chocolate bath, exfoliation, facial, massage and access to pools, while the aloe vera treatment is truly divine. Hammam de Málaga (Málaga) It’s taken a few years but Málaga has more to offer than most people realise, not least of which is a lovely little hammam. It is really on the small side, undoubtedly, and rather than long soaks in pools (as with many of the other hammams are), it specialises in an array of massages and scrubs in beautifully scented, lightly lit surroundings. Alternatively, it is possible to have a rub-down administered up on the terrace surrounded by the rooftops and spires of the city of Málaga. Balneario de Alhama (Alhama de Granada) As would be expected from a town whose name derives from the Arabic (al-hamma means fountain or bath) Alhama de Granada is an Andalucian town with a long and distinguished Moorish heritage. Just outside the town (past an impressive-looking Moorish bridge and through some lovely poplar woods) is the Balneario, or baths. The facilities are excellent with the remains of the old baños árabes built on hot springs in the 1st century AD under Roman rule before being developed in the 12th century. Their beautiful horseshoe arches, suspended above still pools of water, remain to this day. Here it is also possible take the waters while sitting out in the fresh air, and even do what the locals do and climb into the steaming river. In addition to the traditional steam rooms, hot and cold treatments and, of course, a variety of relaxing massages are also on offer, but be sure to book a place in advance to ensure there is space available for a visit.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 13:17:02 +0000
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