Medieval Moorish bathhouse beneath Gibraltar Museum, among Europe’s best-preserved hammams.
The Moorish Baths are a medieval Moorish bathhouse in the basement of the Gibraltar Museum, a British overseas territory. Dating from the early fourteenth century Moorish period, they are regarded as one of Europe’s best-preserved Moorish bath houses, with four hypocaust-heated chambers resembling ancient Roman baths.
The Moorish Baths are a restored medieval Moorish bathhouse situated in the basement of the Gibraltar Museum in the city of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory. The museum stands on Bomb House Lane, off Main Street, opposite the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned, and the baths are accessible only from inside the museum. Built around the early fourteenth century during Moorish rule, the baths have been described as private baths forming part of the palace of the Governor of Gibraltar. They are considered one of the best-preserved Moorish bath houses in Europe and bear resemblance to ancient Roman baths that used the hypocaust heating system. The complex contains four main chambers with both hot and cold rooms, including a steam room, hot and cold baths, and a plunge bath. A 16-sided vaulted roof and a central hall with a dome feature arches supported by a variety of stone and brick columns with Roman and Visigothic-style capitals. Star-shaped roof openings provide natural light, while underground ducts carry hot air from a boiler chamber. Today, the baths are managed by the Government of Gibraltar as part of the Gibraltar Museum complex.
