Fortuna Spain

Fortuna Spain - The Thermal Springs -

When we peruse and discuss the ancient seven wonders of the world, such as the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Great Pyramid of Giza or even, the Statue of Zeus; upon examination, they are all man made features. Please do not misunderstand me, as I do not wish to hinder their reputations nor dismiss them, for they truly are magnificent; however; my question is thus; what about the natural wonders of the world, surely they deserve such status and credibility?

Mother nature is a wonder herself. She is beautiful, she is the giver of life and by the same token, the taker of life. She provides us with water, nourishment and is the true source of our existence. Take Yellowstone Park for example; it possesses the biggest volcanic activity in the world, housing natural hot water springs, some far too hot to experience, unless you want to be boiled alive and some warm enough to bathe in. It is said that if a volcano should erupt in this particular quarter, it is estimated that such a catastrophe could wipe out a third of the United States alone and possibly cause another ice age. This would be due to the copious amounts of pumice released in to the atmosphere, shading any sunlight from our reach. Thankfully, Armageddon is not yet on our doorstep and will remain so for a very, very long time, or at least we hope. I digress. Back to the subject of hot water springs. These waters contain several elements and minerals that might I suggest, could claim to be a natural wonder? Their greatness, from my perspective, is not only due to in the manner in which mother nature has created environmentally friendly warm water system; they are also therapeutic. Thousands of people flock to these springs in order to alleviate medical conditions namely, for rheumatism and breathing disorders and one such spring is right on our doorstep in Fortuna.

What have the Romans done for us?
The Romans conquered Hispania many moons ago leaving behind valuable traces of their heritage and ingenuity. One of their many archaeological sites to be found, namely in the region of Murcia; are the remnants of public baths. Fortuna, a town located in this area of Spain, was home to a populous Roman community, whereby, they utilised natural thermal springs with which to create their luxury baths. Most Roman baths and or buildings, were heated via hot furnaces (hypocaust), by burning wood, situated underneath the floors, leaving sufficient space enabling hot air to circulate in open areas, in order to produce their clever heating system. However, in the instance of the baths to be found in Fortuna, the earth already provided warm and further more, therapeutic water. Is it any wonder why the Romans settled here?

Bathing was not merely a necessity, it was a social function, albeit, only for the privileged; it was a place for social intercourse, from chit chat to business. Warm water springs in Fortuna are famed throughout Spain with the Leana Balneario being it’s oldest and most endearing. Situated on the outskirts of the main town heading in the direction of Yecla; a tiny urban community exists for the sole purpose of the springs. Hotels existed dating back to 1837 belonging to the Spanish Cascale family and still so, to this day. Just a stone throw away, one may view the ancient Roman baths sitting on the hills just below from where the water flows.

The Spaniards understood the true value of the water and what it represents, exactly in the same manner as their Roman predecessors. In 1860, Juan Cascales Font began some renovations to the semi-abandoned spa’s whilst constructing a new hotel which stands today with most of it’s original features. During the Spanish Civil War the hotel spa served as a hospital to aid wounded soldiers and was later, eventually abandoned. In the 1970’s, Spanish Director, Sainz de Heredia filmed ‘Historias de la Television’ (The History of Television) where singer, Concha Velazco sung her hit for the first time in the swimming pool ‘Una chica ye ye’ adding more fame and status to the town and the baths.

The 1990’s witnessed a reform and a boom, converting the public baths to a much heightened popularity, with people visiting Fortuna Balneario for its therapeutic and tranquil means, from various corners of the globe. Whether their choices are for beauty and or holistic medical treatments, as the waters contain rich minerals, namely iron and salt, excellent for all manners of cures, or for the beauty of its setting, offering tranquil scenery, a wealth of history and relaxing treats combined. Therefore, might I boldly suggest that Mother Earth has yet again presented us with a natural wonder of the world.

(Article provided by kind permission of The Leader Newspaper)

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