Exploring El Bañuelo: Granada’s Ancient Arab Baths
Granada, a city rich in history and culture, is home to many significant historical sites. El Bañuelo is one of the oldest and best-preserved Arab baths in Spain. Located at the foot of the Alhambra along the Darro River, El Bañuelo offers a glimpse into the daily life and architectural skills of the Moors during their rule in Andalusia. This 11th-century bathhouse shows the importance of public baths in Moorish culture.
Historical Significance
El Bañuelo, also known as the Walnut Baths, was built in the 11th century during the Zirid dynasty. These baths were important in Moorish society for hygiene and religious reasons. The name “Bañuelo” comes from the Arabic word “Hammam,” meaning bathhouse. The baths were built near mosques so people could clean themselves before prayers. Its location by the Darro River made it an ideal spot due to the easy access to water.
Architectural Marvel
El Bañuelo combines Roman and Islamic architectural styles. It features interconnected rooms with horseshoe arches, vaulted ceilings, and star-shaped skylights. These skylights, called lucernas, allow natural light and ventilation. The bathhouse has three main rooms: the cold room (bayt al-bárid), the warm room (bayt al-wastani), and the hot room (bayt al-sajún), each serving a specific purpose in the bathing process.
Visitors enter through a small courtyard leading to the cold room, used for changing clothes and cooling down. The cold room features a beautiful hall with a central fountain surrounded by marble columns. The next room, the warm room, is the largest and where most people spent their time relaxing and socializing. Finally, the hot room at the back was where bathing took place, heated by a hypocaust system, an underfloor heating method borrowed from the Romans.
The baths are open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am – 14:30pm / 17:00-20:30 pm in the summer (September 15th until April 30th) and from 10am – 17pm in the winter (from May 1st until September 14th). Phone: +34 (0)95 802 7800.
You can access Al Bañuelo with the Monumentos Andalusíes (Andalusian Monuments) ticket or the Dobla de Oro ticket, which includes: the Palace of Dar al-Horra, the Corral del Carbón, Al Bañuelo, and the Casa Horno de Oro.
If you prefer not to buy the Dobla de Oro ticket, El Bañuelo is open to the public and free on Sundays.
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