After rigorous archaeological excavation, the Islamic bathhouse of Loulé opened to the public on May 28, holding the promise to attract more visitors to the historical center and boost the local economy.
It is the largest baths complex in the whole Iberian Peninsula. Excavation and rehabilitation works are valued at around 1.3 million euros.
Consisting of a public complex whose origin dates back to the period of the Islamic occupation of the Algarve, this historic building firts operated between the 12th and 13th centuries. It was transformed into a residential house in the 15th century.
The rehabilitation works undertaken on the site aimed at restoring the Islamic Baths, the archaeological remains of Casa Senhorial dos Barreto, a nobleman’s house from the end of the 15th century, alongside the medieval and modern walls.
Vítor Aleixo, Mayor of Loulé, considers that it is "an enormous satisfaction to inaugurate this remarkable space that, with no shadow of a doubt, will be one of the greatest tourist attractions and heritage site in the area". Aleixo adds that "the baths, the only ones that can be visited in Portugal and the ones with the most complete layout in the Iberian Peninsula, will bring a lot of prestige to the town, and raise the name of our municipality at an international level."
Developed in collaboration with the Campo Arqueológico de Mértola, the Islamic Baths will now have a 3D interaction, that gives visitors the chance to get to know the Baths at the time they were built.
Martino Correia, responsible for the development of the 3D project, states that "the goal of the 3D project was to recreate the appearance that the structure and surrounding area would have, even trying to insert the complex in the urban planning of Loulé at the time, so that it can then be presented to people, either through a virtual tour, or some animations".
Check the complete Loulé Municipal Week schedule here.
