Arab baths of the Caliphate, Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain

Warm Room in the Arab baths of the Caliphate, originally built in the 10th century under Al-Hakam II and rebuilt under King Alfonso XI of Castile in the 14th century, next to the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos or Palace of the Catholic Kings, in Cordoba, Andalusia, Southern Spain. This was the most important room in the hammam, with perimeter galleries and half-barrel vaults resting on columns and horseshoe arches. It was decorated with painted murals. The decorative plants painted on the base of the horseshoe arches are unique in Andalusian art. Here, the Caliph would receive daily hairdressing, shaving, massage and dressing. This hammam complex was discovered in the 20th century buried under the Campo de los Santos Martires and was originally attached to the alcazar. The alcazar was rebuilt during the Umayyad Caliphate in the 10th century and used as a royal fortress by the Moors and the Christians, as a base for the Spanish Inquisition, and as a prison. The alcazar is a national monument of Spain, and the historic centre of Cordoba is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Picture by Manuel Cohen

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Al-andalus Alcazar Andalucia Andalucian Baths Caliphate Campo Cordoba Cordova Cristianos Hammam Horseshoe Maghreb Martires Monarchs Moor Moorish Reyes Santos Tepidarium Vault

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