Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Michel Cruz of Rimontgo

Indulging in a few treatments at the nearest spa has become something of a habit for today’s stressed professionals, so much so that it is quite a shock to remember that a few hours at the spa was something that the Romans also took for granted.

Diego Ruiz, who hails from La Vila Joiosa, just north of Alicante, has spent the past four years researching the Roman baths that were discovered locally in 2006. Located in the area formerly known as Alion, this historic spa was originally part of the fourth largest city in the province and for Diego it has been a labour of love to excavate its fascinating ancient structure.

After sifting through a massive three tons of tiles and bricks, marble decorations, coins and ceramic shards, the archaeologist feels that he has gained a vivid picture of the Alion spa as it would have been during the days of the Roman occupation.

Diego revealed that like many of our spas today, the Romans would charge bathers an entrance fee, which would have assisted in paying for the maintenance of the facilities estimated to have been built between 85 and 110 A.D.

Enough of the original spa remains to give experts an idea of what might have constituted a typical visit to the spa. As Diego Ruiz states: “the bathers who came here walked from the dressing room (apodyterium) to a washing and massage room (unctorium), which was then followed by a sauna (caldarium) in hot water pools, then into a lukewarm room (tepidarium), where everyone would sit around and chat, and finally into an enormous cold water pool (frigidarium).”

Although it is assumed that a large swimming pool would also have been included in such a complex the team has yet to locate one.

Also, like many of our contemporary spas, this Roman site included a bar where bathers could enjoy a drink. Intriguingly there was also a small shopping gallery, a facility that few imagine when thinking of a Roman spa.

Plans are under way to open the spa to the public. Already arrangements are being made to turn the site into a museum, which can only boost the numbers of tourists to La Vila Joiosa and help to demonstrate how modern spa lovers are merely following the pattern of Roman life.

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