THE ARAB BATHS RONDA

These baths are situated in the old quarter or the quarter of the tanneries, dating from the Islamic period, and later called San Miguel. Its location in an eminetly artisan zone is due to the close proximity of the Arroyo Las Culebras (the snake stream) which provided the baths with water, while at the same time marking the boundary of the quarter´s south east side.

Owing to their size, it is likely that these were the principal baths in the Morrish city. The enclosure was protected by a wall of mortar and masonry. The baths were provided with water by a watherwhell and a small aqueduct. The heating system, in turn, followed the basic lines of that employed in the times of the Romans, except that the latter used steam in place of body –deep pools.

The structure of the building is typically Moorish. Made of brick, it has a central chamber divided into three galleries with horseshoe arches and a mixture of vaults and cupulas, and two smaller chambers located at each end, covered also with vaults. The three chambers, which were designated as warm, hot and cold, received light through a number of star-shapped roof openings.

Before these chambers there was an area for changing-rooms and the various services provides for an installation of this type, for which it was situated close to the main entrance. The woodshed and bolier or heating- rooms was situated on the opposite side, at the back of the building.

The baths were constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries and the bwest conserved in the entired Iberian Peninsula.