Arab Baths, Medieval public baths in Medina Quarter, Ceuta, Spain.
The Arab Baths are a medieval bathing complex in Ceuta's Medina with separate chambers designed for cold and hot water treatments. The preserved rooms display barrel vault ceilings and reveal the original layout of cold, warm, and hot sections arranged for progressive heating and cooling.
These baths were built during the 12th and 13th centuries when Muslims ruled the city and remained in use until Portuguese forces took control in the 15th century. After the occupation, their function ended, and the remains gradually disappeared underground for several centuries.
For medieval Muslims in the city, these baths served as important social spaces where people gathered while also fulfilling religious cleansing rituals. Visitors can still sense how this place wove together daily habits and spiritual practices in one shared space.
The site sits on Plaza de la Paz and is accessible on foot from the city center, though much of it has been excavated and the ground can be uneven. Wearing comfortable shoes is wise, and be aware that some chamber areas are narrow and low-ceilinged.
Beneath the bath floors, archaeologists found remnants of a sophisticated heating system resembling Roman hypocaust technology. Excavations between 2000 and 2004 revealed how heat was distributed through underground channels to warm the different chambers systematically.
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