Blog

Stories from Calle Almanzor

Wellness, history and the hammam experience.

What Are the Arab Baths of Córdoba

A hammam built on 1st-century Roman thermal ruins, in the Jewish Quarter. Not a spa. Something else entirely.

Things to Do in Córdoba in a Weekend: A Local’s Guide

Two days, a UNESCO World Heritage city, and more to see than fits in a weekend. Here is what truly deserves your time.

What to Do After Visiting the Mosque of Córdoba

You have just left the Mosque. Your feet are tired, your head is full of images and you have the whole afternoon ahead. Here is what you can do within 5 minutes

Romantic Plans in Córdoba: 10 Ideas That Never Fail

Córdoba has an innate ability to turn any walk into something memorable. These are the experiences couples come back for.

What to Bring to the Arab Baths

The short answer: a swimsuit. The long answer: even that is not strictly essential.

The 700 Arab Baths of Córdoba: A City Built on Water

In the 10th century Córdoba had 700 public baths — one for every 350 inhabitants. What they were like, what happened and what survives.

Before and After a Massage: Multiply the Benefits

What you do in the hours before and after makes the difference between a pleasant massage and one you remember for days.

Hammam Aromatherapy: Rosemary and Orange Blossom

The two scents that have accompanied the Arab bath in Andalusia for centuries. One awakens, the other calms. Together, balance.

Hammam Architecture: Light, Water and Stone

Nothing in a hammam is accidental. Star-pierced vaults, the sequence of rooms, stone and marble — all designed for the body to respond.

Arab Baths vs Spa: Real Differences and Which to Choose

How Arab baths differ from a conventional spa. Water, temperature, massage, philosophy and experience. Why they are not the same thing.

Battle of the Flowers Córdoba 2026

The Battle of the Flowers opens May in Córdoba with 20 floats and over 100,000 carnations. Sunday 26 April 2026, 12:00, Paseo de la Victoria.

Temperature Contrast in the Hammam: Why It Works

The science behind alternating heat and cold, and how your body responds when you go from 39°C to 15°C.

Relaxing Massage: When to Choose One and What You Feel

Not every day calls for a massage. When it does, knowing what to ask for and how to make the most of it changes the result.

Spa Benefits for Your Health and Wellbeing

Discover the benefits of a spa: less stress, better circulation, sleep and skin. Treatments and advice at the Arab Baths of Córdoba.

Córdoba with Kids: 8 Plans for the Whole Family

The Alcázar with peacocks, Andalusian horses, boat rides on the river and Arab baths for ages 12 and up. Córdoba has more for kids than it seems.

Córdoba in Summer: Cool Plans Above 39°C

How to enjoy Córdoba in the summer heat: local timetables, the 15°C cold pool, evening strolls by the river and night-time plans.

Tea Culture in the Hammam: The Closing Ritual

Tea is not a decorative touch. It is the traditional close of the Arab bath — the moment when the body settles and calm takes hold.

Don José Araujo and the Coins That Changed This House

Around 1930, Don José Araujo discovered old coins. Their sale let the family buy the house where the Arab Baths stand today.

Where to Eat in Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter

Recommended restaurants and bars in the Jewish Quarter of Córdoba. A local guide from a neighbour — and which dishes to order.

Córdoba Getaway: How to Get There, 1 or 2 Days

How to reach Córdoba from Madrid, Seville or Málaga by AVE train. What to see on a short break, with accommodation and Arab baths.

Kessa Glove Exfoliation: The Moroccan Skin Ritual

A natural-fibre glove, black olive-oil soap and the technique that has renewed skin for centuries. How the kessa ritual works.

First Hammam Visit Guide

Everything you need to know before your first hammam: what to bring, how it works and what to expect at the Arab Baths of Córdoba.

History of the Arab Baths of Córdoba

Roman remains from the 1st century, 700 baths under the Caliphate, the Henestrosa family baths and the coins of 1930. The real history of our house.

The Jewish Quarter of Córdoba: Full Walking Route

Step-by-step route through Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter: Puerta de Almodóvar, Synagogue, Calleja de las Flores, Arab Baths and Mosque.

Hot Stone Massage: What Heat Does for Your Muscles

Basalt stones at 55°C reach layers your hands cannot. How hot stone massage works and why it is stronger after the baths.

Best Massage in Córdoba: An Honest Local Guide

Where, how and what a good massage costs in Córdoba. What nobody tells you before you book — written from the Jewish Quarter.

The Patios of Córdoba: When to Visit Them

A guide to the Córdoba Patios Festival in May. History, tradition and the link with the water culture of the Jewish Quarter.

The Flotation Pool: What It Is and How It Feels

An experience of weightlessness and disconnection you will only find in one place in Córdoba. What the science says and when to float.

Plan Your Visit to the Arab Baths of Córdoba

Booking, opening hours, what to bring, when to come and how to fit the baths into your visit to Córdoba. The practical guide.

Why the Catholic Monarchs Banned the Arab Baths

700 hammams in Córdoba disappeared in a few decades. Not for lack of water or use — for politics, identity and fear of difference.

What to Do in Córdoba When It Rains: 8 Indoor Plans

Rainy-day plans in Córdoba. Arab baths, museums, food and cultural spaces that turn bad weather into an opportunity.

What to See in Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter

Synagogue, Calleja de las Flores, Casa de Sefarad, Arab Baths and the Mosque. What we tell anyone who asks us what is worth seeing.

Original Gifts in Córdoba: Ideas That Last

When an object is not enough. Gift ideas in Córdoba for the person who has everything except time for themselves.

From Roman Baths to Hammam: 2,000 Years of Water

Beneath this floor lie 1st-century remains. Above them, 15th-century baths. The same hot water still flows. The continuity is real.

The water awaits you

Four pools, flotation and massages in Córdoba's Jewish Quarter.

Book from €32