Lanjaron Spa

From the mid-nineteenth century, the powers of water as a healing resource would end up significantly changing the appearance of the town and the lifestyle of its inhabitants. During the last third of the century, the population already had numerous cheap accommodations in private homes and rooms for modest families, also having three inns (La Granadina, San Rafael and Reguera), whose classification fluctuated according to the mood and experience of the travelers.

From the 1920s onwards, the Lanjarón spa lived its most glorious era. Driven by the important reforms initiated, new hotels began to be built, which radically modernized the local offer and gave the town the appearance of a large tourist center. The construction drive of that decade made it possible to fill the border space between the town center and the spa, creating a hotel strip - the Avenida - with the dimensions and uniqueness of another new town.

During the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera and the Second Republic, Lanjarón became the most important summer resort in Granada, where the most select of its lower middle class came; the spa had established itself as the main factor attracting visitors, thereby creating a source of wealth and seasonal work that supported many domestic economies.

The Civil War and the long post-war period not only brought a tragic interruption to this tourist path and to this peaceful world built around the waters, but also a change in ownership and management of the Spa. Following the purchase of the establishment in 1947 by another businessman from Granada - Manuel Gallardo Torrens - a new era began, characterised by the growing consideration of water as a commodity for domestic consumption. This inaugurated a new productive and commercial activity, the bottling of mineral water.

The reactivation of the spa enclave as a tourist centre in the process of modernisation had to promote the influx of a greater number of visitors. In 1950 the number of water users rose to 4,559, experiencing constant growth throughout the decade, until exceeding 7,000 people in 1960.

Today the Lanjarón Spa is based on remodelled services and new ideas regarding the management of tourist and spa activity.

Mineral-medicinal waters

From 1774, the name of Lanjarón began to spread due to the therapeutic effects of its mineral-medicinal waters. In 1792, in order to guarantee a minimum of order in the management of the waters, the City Council took control of the waters.

It was in 1819, with the arrival in Lanjarón of D. Miguel Baldovi (first director of the Spa) when the use of the waters began to be moderated and their properties investigated.

In 1875 it became private property, its first owner being the Duchess of Medina Santoña. After her death, in 1899 it was acquired by D. Silverio Carrillo, guaranteeing the success of any investment.

In 1922, upon his death, it passed in full ownership to his daughter, Sister Matilde Carrillo, founder of the Charity school in Lanjarón.

From this date onwards, renovation works began, building a large spring hall and a function room. One of the last important works carried out was the restoration of this function room.

The number of discovered springs has now reached 32, although only five are under the control of the centre's management, as the others are considered only drinkable. The properties of the five springs that are marketed are extremely varied:

Capuchina: Chlorinated, bicarbonated and sodium-calcium. It is used for digestive problems.

Capilla: Chlorinated, bicarbonated and ferruginous. It activates the hepatic muscular system and is ideal for diabetics and people with high cholesterol levels.

San Vicente: Bicarbonated-calcium. It helps overcome kidney deficiencies, reduces blood pressure and promotes weight loss.

Health: Chlorinated sodium-calcium bicarbonate. It is ideal for facilitating digestion.

El Salado: Chlorinated sodium-calcium, ferruginous magnesium (strongly mineralized). It is used for thermal baths. It comes out at an average temperature of 27º C. It has anti-inflammatory properties and eliminates stress, fatigue, helps with respiratory problems and greatly attenuates the effects of osteoarthritis.