The Sancti Petri Hammam is a place given over to leisure and relaxation that recreates the Arab baths of the times of Al-Andalus. The baths have three different rooms: hot, warm and cold. The different temperatures of the water or steam and the baths’ exquisite décor provoke sensations that allow those who use them to travel back in time and experience how the ancients used to care for their bodies.
The hammam has 1,800m2 of facilities, distributed in three different areas: the baths, with their hot room, with water at 40ºC, warm room (36ºC) and cold room (16ºC), a relaxation room and an authentic hammam, a steam bath that gives the place its name. The facilities also include massage rooms and two tea rooms that recuperate the aromas and tastes of the gastronomy of Al-Andalus.
The ambience that has been recreated at the Hammam Sancti Petri recalls that of the ancient Arab baths, with their fine materials, marble, stucco, stone and tiles, and the use of vibrant colours full of life and sensuality, characteristic the era.
The Sancti Petri Hammam – one of the best of its kind in Europe – is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and complex but highly reliable equipment. Built with traditional and modern materials alike, the baths are an example of how to combine ancient traditions with the very latest in technology.
The hamman’s services, including its water rituals and the gastronomy, dancing and music of Al-Andalus, allow clients to travel back in time to a magical era still deeply rooted in Spanish culture.
Therapeutic properties of water
The therapeutic properties of water for the body, mind and spirit should not be underrated: the activation of the circulation and increased oxygenation relax the nervous system, which in turn creates a sensation of wellbeing. This sensation is heightened by the feeling of abandoning oneself to the flow of the water. In addition, the steam helps to clean the skin and eliminate toxins.
The services provided by the Sancti Petri Hammam are keyed to those looking for leisure activities combining enjoyment with healthcare and wellbeing. It is an excellent choice for those wishing disconnect from the rigours of everyday life to savour a spell of peace and quiet.
Some history
According to the archaeological digs in Attica and Crete and the writings of Homer, baths was already widespread in Ancient Greece. The Greeks understood the main applications of hydrotherapy in cold, hot and steam baths for all parts of the anatomy, as well as the benefits of affusions and showers.
The Romans fully adopted the Greek’s use of water for healthcare, and the custom became so widespread that public baths were opened.
Travellers, merchants and historians disseminated the benefits of such treatments and many societies adopted them.
The following quotation from Thousand and One Nights says it all:
“Oh, furnace of the hammam, your life-giving heat! Oh, furnace of the hammam, you revive our body and alleviate our soul, which are comforted thanks to you!”
