the medieval baths

The original city of Gibraltar founded in 1160 by Abd-al-Mumin would have included both private and public baths, but these, situated in the Gibraltar Museum, date from 1333 and are contemporary with the Moorish Castle Tower of Homage. The baths comprise of 3 chambers, the first chamber of normal warm temperature where the bather undressed, at least one room at a very high temperature (the Hot Room), and a Cold Room which had no heating at all. The chambers have vaulted ceilings, pillars, and were lit by star shaped lantern roof lights. The central chamber has a domed ceiling and is supported by horse-shoe arches on polished stone columns.
The baths were heated by a network of canals under the floor throughout which hot air circulated, very similar to the Roman Hypocaust system. The baths operated much like saunas do today where the bather alternates between the hot and cold rooms thereby cleansing their body.
The location of these baths is within, what would have been, the grounds of the Merinid Governor of Gibraltar’s palace, and so are not public baths but rather for the use of the Governor and his household. The bathing complex was originally larger than what survives today, but a section of the building was destroyed during the Great Siege of 1779-83.
During the British occupation of Gibraltar, most of the baths buildings were used as stables. The westerly room was filled in to road level and used as a coach house and later as a garage.
These Moorish baths were until the discovery of the Jaen baths were reputed to be the only surviving (and most extensive) in southern Iberia, excluding those of the Alhambra in Granada.

Medieval Baths Conservation Project

ABOVE: Floor plan of the Medieval Baths.