Arab Baths of Girona

The Arab Baths of Girona (Catalan: Banys Àrabs) are one of the best-preserved medieval bathhouse complexes on the Iberian Peninsula, tucked into the old quarter of Girona (Barri Vell) near the Sant Pere de Galligants monastery, by the Galligants river.

Were the baths actually built by Moors?

Despite the name, no. The first record of public baths in Girona dates to 1194, and the building itself is Romanesque, raised under the rule of Alfons I. The "Arab" label stuck because the builders drew on three overlapping traditions at once: Roman bathing engineering, Islamic hammam design, and Jewish ritual mikveh practice. That fusion made the building read as Islamic architecture for centuries, even though it was commissioned and built by Christians.

What happened to the building after it was completed?

The complex had a turbulent history. In 1285 it was partially destroyed during the siege of Girona by the forces of Philip III the Bold of France. Reconstruction didn't come until 1294, led by master builder Ramon Taialà under commission from King James II. By 1342 the building belonged to Arnau Sarriera, personal physician to King Peter III the Ceremonious, and for a time some of its rooms served as a mikveh for the city's Jewish community. Another turn came in 1618, when a community of Capuchin nuns purchased the site and folded it into their convent — its original bathing function faded into the background for centuries.

What can visitors see inside today?

The layout follows the classic bathhouse sequence of rooms at different water temperatures. A visit begins in the apodyterium, the changing room and the most striking space in the complex, built around a small octagonal pool ringed by slender columns. Above the pool rises an octagonal lantern that pokes through the roofline, carried on arches and pillars. The column capitals are richly carved with plant and animal motifs, read by historians as symbolic references to the Christian earthly paradise. From the apodyterium, the route continues into the frigidarium (cold room), then the tepidarium (warm room), and finally the caldarium — the hottest chamber, heated from below by an underfloor system in the tradition of a Roman hypocaust.

How did the baths survive to the present day?

After the convent period, the building fell into obscurity, but 19th-century travelers and scholars took notice — Alexandre de Laborde recorded it in drawings and engravings that carried its reputation across Europe. The scientific case for saving the monument came from Catalan architect and historian Josep Puig i Cadafalch, whose research pushed the Girona Provincial Council to purchase the site in 1929. A thorough restoration followed, and the complex opened to the public in 1932 — the apodyterium's current appearance is largely the result of that restoration work.

Why is it worth a visit?

The Arab Baths of Girona are a rare case of three cultural traditions — Roman, Islamic and Jewish — filtering through the hands of medieval Catalan Romanesque builders. The intimate interior, the play of light falling through the octagonal lantern, and the richly carved capitals make it one of the most photogenic monuments in Girona's old town, easily paired with a visit to the nearby Sant Pere de Galligants monastery and the medieval city walls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Were the Arab Baths of Girona built by Moors? No. They were built in 1194 in the Romanesque style by Christian craftsmen who drew on Roman baths, Islamic hammams, and Jewish mikveh traditions — which is where the misleading name comes from.

What is the apodyterium, and why is it the highlight of the complex? The apodyterium was the changing room, built around a small octagonal pool with a surrounding colonnade and a matching octagonal lantern above. It is the most decorated and best-preserved room in the baths, with column capitals carved with plant and animal motifs.

When did the baths open to the public? After being purchased by the Girona Provincial Council in 1929 and restored, the complex opened to visitors in 1932.

Did the building serve any purpose other than bathing? Yes — in the mid-14th century some rooms temporarily served as a mikveh for the city's Jewish community, and from 1618 the building became part of a Capuchin convent.