Water and wellbeing

The spa waters of Carratraca await you, their properties appreciated by the various civilizations that have passed through this secluded spot over the centuries

The town of Carratraca marries the concepts of water and wellbeing like no other part of Andalusia. The healing powers of the town’s waters – rich in sulphur, calcium and magnesium – was recognised as far back as the Roman times, when soldiers bathed in them to cure their battle wounds. But it was the Arab population who came up with the current name of this beautiful village in the foothills of the Sierra Blanquilla mountains. Carratraca originates in the Arabic ‘Karr-al-krak’: ‘to clean oneself of blemishes’.

However, legend has it that it was the smuggler Juan ‘El Camisón’ (his nickname means ‘nightshirt’) who discovered the healing power of Carratraca’s waters. With his skin raw and covered in festering sores, the only garment he was allowed to wear was a long, fine nightshirt.

Fleeing from justice, ‘El Camisón’ arrived in Carratraca and sought refuge in a shepherd’s animal pen. Day after day he saw how the shepherd submerged the sheep with blackened skin and unattractive wool into strong-smelling water. Juan ‘El Camisón’ decided to follow in the sheep’s footsteps and, after immersing himself several times, he saw how his skin became smooth and returned to its normal colour.

In a later era, the European bourgeoisie transformed Carratraca into a place for closing deals worth millions, while they bathed in the water. In fact, King Ferdinand VII of Spain visited the town in 1830 and ordered the Hostal del Príncipe [The Prince’s Guesthouse] to be built, so that he would have somewhere to stay while he enjoyed the water’s properties. In 1855, thanks to the donation of some lands by the Count of Teba, the father of Eugenia de Montijo (wife of Napoleon III and Empress Consort of the French), a beautiful Neoclassic spa was built, which is now one of the symbols of the town.

The spa’s sulphur-rich water has extremely beneficial properties, such as positive effects upon the neurovegetative system (lowering blood pressure); stimulating the production of antibodies; its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects; boosting the activity of the livers cells, and its positive impacts on the muscles and mucous membranes.

At Carratraca Spa you can relax with a massage, hydrotherapy session or specialised treatments and facials, through programmes such as Thermal Health, Stop Smoking, and more.