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Ancient bathhouse uncovered by builders - 19th April 2021

An incredible discovery has been made in Seville, southern Spain. Builders renovating a bar have uncovered an Islamic bathhouse around 900 years old. The ceilings and walls of the ancient hammam are extremely ornate, decorated with symmetrical patterns and skylights.

The Giralda Bar has been serving tapas near the city’s cathedral for close to a century. Faced with both local roadworks and a global pandemic last summer, the bar’s owners commissioned some building improvements.

Shortly after starting work, builders discovered an eight-pointed star skylight. Together with the 90 skylights eventually revealed, some extraordinary Islamic painting was soon exposed, preserved within the bar’s walls.

This revelation was described as "completely unexpected" by archaeologist Alvaro Jimenez. On seeing the skylights, he explained, the purpose of the site was immediately apparent to the team.

Commenting on the baths’ architectural significance, Jimenez stated that they “have the largest amount of preserved decoration of any of the known baths on the Iberian peninsula.”

Local rumours had suggested that a hammam might once have stood on this site. However, the Giralda Bar’s Moorish appearance was considered by many as simply a 1920s fashion choice made by the bar’s architect, Vicente Traver.

Although the venue is already a prominent tapas spot, its four landlords are looking ahead to the bar’s bright future, full of praise for Traver. Fortunately, he “respected the baths,” said Antonio Castro, one of the owners. “Others might have chucked everything out, so we’re grateful to him.”

Now, their clientele will be able to sip and nibble in a distinguished and memorable setting.