A public bath with medicinal waters is called a spa.
Spa is a concept that is used in different ways according to the geographical region. The first meaning mentioned by the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) indicates that it is an adjective that refers to what is linked to a public bathroom , especially those that are medicinal .
Spa is also the name given to facilities equipped with medicinal baths and tourist services on the European continent . These spas are based on the use of mineral or thermal water as a healing tool. Various respiratory, joint, dermatological and digestion conditions, among others, can be treated in these spas.
Etymology of spa
To know the meaning of the term spa, we must first establish its etymological origin. In this case, we can state that it derives from the Latin balnearius , which is the result of the sum of two clearly delimited components:
- The noun balneum , which can be translated as “bath” .
- The suffix -ary , which is used to indicate “place” .
Its characteristics
Spas generally have different kinds of showers and swimming pools so that people can take advantage of the water.
When these spas are not medicinal, but rather aim at aesthetics or relaxation, they include sauna , solarium and other options.
Examples of spas
The fact that relaxation and health tourism has become fashionable has led to the emergence of numerous spas around the world. In Spain, several stand out that are identified and differentiated by the fact that they are built on old buildings:
- Mondariz Spa . It is more than 125 years old and is considered to have been one of the most important at the beginning of the 20th century . A good example of its relevance is that illustrious figures such as Benito Pérez Galdós and Emilia Pardo Bazán enjoyed it.
- Panticosa Spa . Huesca is where this spa is located, which has its origins in Roman times. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was visited by kings, presidents of the government, scientists and even illustrious writers.
- Liérganes Spa . It is located in Cantabria and is one of the most relevant in the history of Spain since King Alfonso XIII and his family were regulars there.
- Lanjarón Spa , located in the province of Granada . He has an interesting past behind him as he had Federico García Lorca , Virginia Woolf and Manuel de Falla as clients, among others.
In Latin America, a spa is a town or city that is located next to the sea.
The concept in Latin America
In Latin America , on the other hand, the city or town that is located next to the sea is known as a spa. These are tourist towns that are highly visited during the summer season. The idea of a spa is also used as a synonym for a parador or beach club (that is, a space that provides services such as bathrooms, umbrellas, chairs, a restaurant, etc.).
Mar del Plata , for example, is a seaside resort city in Argentina that lies next to the Atlantic Ocean . In turn, there are spas such as La Perla , designed by the famous architect Clorinda Testa and inaugurated in 1989 .