Caliphal baths of Cordoba, Arab bathhouse in Cordoba, Spain.
The Caliphal Baths are a hammam in Cordoba consisting of multiple connected chambers with stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and semi-circular arches supported by marble columns. The structure was built as a bathing complex with rooms arranged along a central circulation system for orderly movement between spaces.
The complex was built in the 10th century under Caliph Al-Hakam II as part of the flourishing Umayyad society in Cordoba and was abandoned after the Christian conquest of 1236.
The baths reflect a blend of Roman bathing customs with Islamic purification practices that held religious meaning for believers. Visitors can still see today the three temperature-controlled chambers that show how people cleansed themselves and maintained daily hygiene.
The entrance is at Plaza Campo Santo de los Mártires, and visitors can buy tickets at several central locations in town. The best time to visit is early in the day or during cooler months to avoid crowds.
The complex used a sophisticated heating system with furnaces that channeled hot air and water through underground passages, similar to ancient Roman hypocaust technology. This engineering system allowed multiple rooms to maintain different temperatures without requiring separate heat sources in each space.
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