History - Carratraca
Carratraca has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by archaeological finds in the Sierra de Alcaparaín, where Neolithic burials and cave paintings have been discovered. This long-standing presence continued into the Roman Period, as suggested by Roman coins and a late Roman necropolis found near the sulphurous springs.
Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the area surrounding what is now the Villa Padierna Thermas Hotel in Carratraca experienced significant mining activity. The region was renowned for its geodiversity and hosted deposits of minerals such as chromium, nickel and even traces of diamonds, though never commercially exploited.
The history of the village is very much linked to the Spa. According to legend, in the 19th century, a beggar known as Juan Camisón discovered the healing properties of the waters after observing a goatherd using them to treat the ulcers of his goats. After trying the waters himself, he experienced a marked improvement in his health. About the history of the Spa at Carratraca
Carratraca was officially constituted as a municipality in 1821, separating from Casarabonela. In 1855, the neoclassical spa building was inaugurated, the work of the architect José Trigueros, which became a point of reference for the bourgeoisie of the time.