What is a thermal spa?

The difference between a thermal spa, a thalassotherapy centre and a wellness centre lies in the type of water they use. Thermal spas use mineral-medicinal waters, thalassotherapy centres use seawater, and wellness centres use tap water.

Thermal spas treatments provide cures thanks to the therapeutic action of their mineral-medicinal or thermal waters.

Mineral-medicinal waters are natural or artificially produced waters whose characteristics and qualities have been declared as suitable for public use for therapeutic treatments.

Thermal waters are those that have a temperature of at least 4°C higher than the average yearly temperature of the water in the area where they are found.

Thermal spas are centres equipped with suitable resources to make use of mineral-medicinal waters that have been declared as suitable for public use for therapeutic and health treatments.

(Law 5/1995, of 7 June, regulating mineral, thermal and spring waters, and waters of spa establishments in the Autonomous Region of Galicia)

 

History of Thermalism in Galicia

Lessons of Professor Encarna Otero in the Cadena Ser: