Historic spas, hot springs and hydrotherapy centres in Spain for forgetting all about stress

You can hear the sound of water everywhere and feel it massaging your body. As the bubbles embrace you, almost instinctively you breathe deeply, close your eyes and exhale. This is the calm you were looking for, the moment you deserve, and it feels like a dream. You open your eyes... and the dream goes on: you’re in an Arab bath, floating in therapeutic spring water. You might be in Granada and the Graena Spa, one of the oldest spas in Andalusia, in the town of Cortes Graena at the foot of Sierra Nevada National Park. Nearby is another hydrotherapy centre of long tradition, Lanjarón Spa, which has been enjoyed over the years by such illustrious figures as Virginia Woolf, Bertrand Russell, and Federico García Lorca. The setting of these spas also has much to offer. From the rural charm of the Alpujarra region in general, to the must-see city of Granada and the Alhambra. We recommend taking the chance to see the sunset from the San Nicolás viewpoint (“the most beautiful in the world,” according to Bill Clinton, a former President of the United States).

Waking up your senses, spending some time on yourself, and listening to your own body. These are some of the health benefits of visiting a spa, leaving aside the therapeutic properties of the water. Some spa centres enhance these effects even more thanks to their locations in beautiful natural settings, taking you even further from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Most of the spas in Spain are in places like these, where you can feel a connection to nature. These are a few of the most historic. In the Region of Murcia, you can enjoy a frequent winner of the Wellness Experience Award. This is Archena Spa, on the banks of the river Segura, in the Ricote Valley. If you go from spring to autumn, a sweet surprise awaits… Your sense of smell will be born anew with the fragrance of its jasmine gardens.

In northern Spain, the region of Cantabria is known for its natural beauty, and the Puente Viesgo spa is a good example. It’s on the banks of the river Pas, among woodland and meadows. Nearby, the caves of Monte Castillo make up a UNESCO World Heritage site, in recognition of their cave paintings. One of the best spas in Catalonia is Caldes de Boí. Its stunning location is in Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, in the Catalan Pyrenees. From here you can visit the Romanesque churches of Vall de Boí, a World Heritage site. A fun fact - this spa holds the world record for the greatest variety of medicinal waters.