Jaen City - Fascinating Fact 5

BIG BATHS

Although a palace was built over them in the 16th century, Jaen´s 11th-century hammam (Arab baths) have survived another 400 years, and are now the largest baths open to the public in Spain. They were probably constructed on top of earlier (Roman) baths which used local hot springs - you can see Roman ruins through a glass walkway in the basement of the palace, on your way to visit the baths. The perfect horseshoe arches, star-shaped skylights and vaulted brick chambers (hot, warm and cold) were rediscovered in 1913, under the Palacio de Villardompardo, and their restoration project won the Europa Nostra (European Cultural Heritage) prize.

The Arab baths of Jaen

• Fact 1 - For centuries Jaen was a battleground in the power struggles between Christian kings and Moorish rulers.
• Fact 2 - Enjoy bird´s-eye views - in the city´s mountain-top castle.
• Fact 3 - See Jesus´ face in Jaen´s version of the Turin Shroud.
• Fact 4 - Taste "liquid gold" in the world capital of olive oil.
• Fact 5 - Visit the largest surviving Arab baths in Spain.
Jaen city - Fascinating Facts
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