Banys Àrabs

The Arab Baths, in Palma

The Arab Baths, the Banys Àrabs, are one of the rare vestiges of the Islamic period preserved in Palma. The Palma audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this exceptional testimony of the Muslim past of Majorca, a medieval hammam nestled in a peaceful garden.

The medieval hammam and its garden

Here is the entrance of the Arab Baths of Palma, one of the best preserved constructions, and so to speak without restoration, of the Islamic period on the island. Built probably between the tenth and the twelfth century, during the centuries of Muslim domination of Majorca, these baths, or hammam, testify to the importance of the bath in Arab culture, at once a practice of hygiene, a place of sociability and a ritual of purification. The most remarkable element is the main room, topped with a dome pierced with small star-shaped openings that let the light filter through, and supported by a dozen columns with mismatched capitals, doubtless reused from earlier constructions. Today, the ensemble is nestled in a charming peaceful garden, planted with orange trees, palm trees and Mediterranean plants, which adds to the serenity of the place. A precious vestige and a rare witness of insular al-Andalus, the Arab Baths are a must-see stop of the discovery of Palma.

What to see

Here you discover one of the best preserved constructions of the Islamic period of Majorca, a hammam built between the tenth and the twelfth century, whose main room is topped with a dome pierced with star-shaped openings and supported by a dozen columns with mismatched capitals, nestled in a charming garden of orange trees and palm trees. The Arab Baths are a precious vestige of Palma. It is a stop to be discovered, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Arab Baths lie in the old town of Palma, reachable on foot. The visit follows its own hours and conditions, which vary. It is best to check them before coming. The garden invites to a peaceful pause.

What are the Arab Baths of Palma?

One of the best preserved constructions of the Islamic period of Majorca, a hammam built between the tenth and the twelfth century; its main room, topped with a dome pierced with star-shaped openings and supported by a dozen columns, is nestled in a charming Mediterranean garden.

Where are the Arab Baths of Palma?

In the old town of Palma de Mallorca, in Spain.