BAÑOS ÁRABES

Thus, the architect and researcher of the heritage of Torres Torres and its region, Juan Corbalán de Celis, points out in his article “The current square of the Church of Torres Torres”, included in his work “Torres Torres. Floresta de pequeñas historias”, that the origin of the baths could even be before the time of the reconquest, since after this the place loses importance and there is no point in building baths of such magnitude. On the other hand, other investigations carried out after several archaeological works carried out on this monument in 2003 point to a later construction, during the 14th century, a date that appears in the General Inventory of Valencian Cultural Heritage. In addition, the first documentary reference that we have of this monument corresponds to 1555. In any case, these facilities reproduce the basic layout of Hammam. They were declared a National Monument in 1938 and are one of the three best preserved Arab baths in the Valencian Community. Corbalán de Celis, whom we follow in this article, highlights the uniqueness of finding baths of these characteristics in an urban settlement whose origin is markedly military. Torres Torres is located on the so-called Via del Palancia, a traditional communication route between the current territories of Aragon and Valencia. For this reason, it became a place of passage and rest for travelers, which would give reason for having simple baths, but of relative importance, given its low population. The architecture reinforces this approach, as the access door to the baths is located on the north façade of the complex, in front of which the royal road probably passed, following the Roman road. The Baths of Torres Torres ceased this function of public toilets in the centuries after their Christianisation. However, the inhabitants of the municipality may have reused them as a water tank, linked to the nearby cistern, a decision that may have allowed the monument to survive to this day in a very good state of conservation.