Balneario de Nuestra Senora de la Palma y del Real (Spa of Our Lady of La Palma and Real), Cadiz

Overlooking the golden sands of La Caleta Beach, the Spa of Our Lady of La Palma and Real is one of the most iconic seaside landmarks. Inaugurated in 1926, the building replaced the earlier 19th-century wooden bathhouses, which had long served the city’s summer visitors.

Designed by architect Enrique García Cañas, the new structure embraced permanence and elegance, rising on reinforced concrete pillars directly above the beach and establishing itself as both a functional bathhouse and a symbol of coastal leisure.

The architecture of the Balneario is notable for its blend of styles. A central structure-originally designed to accommodate up to 300 guests-is flanked by two curved galleries that stretch outward like open arms toward the sea. The artistry of the building references both modernist design trends and the English spa tradition. One of the few ornamental elements is a colorful ceramic tile panel depicting the Virgin of La Palma, a devotional image painted by renowned ceramicist Juan Ruiz de Luna.

Once the main access point to La Caleta Beach, the attraction hosted bathers, banquets, and even a naval boarding school during the Spanish Civil War. After years of decline, the building was abandoned in 1975, sparking debate over its demolition.

In 1990, it was saved when the Andalusian government declared it an Asset of Cultural Interest. Restoration efforts focused on the central towers, hexagonal wings, and key ornamental details, recreated from old photographs.