Termarium

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Thermal tourism in Baños de Montemayor dates back 2,000 years to the 1st century AD. Archaeological findings show that the Columna and Arqueta hot springs, with their sulphur and sodium-rich, oligometallic waters, were first used for their therapeutic properties during this period. With an upwelling temperature of 43°C, these waters were valued not only for their therapeutic properties but also for leisure and relaxation. And the tradition has continued to this day to the point where the thermal springs are famous in our Autonomous Community and beyond. Thanks to this long-standing tradition and vast experience, the town was honoured as an Excellent Thermal Town by the Thermal Towns Section of the FEMP in 2011 and recognised as Extremadura’s First Thermal Town in 2020. All this history is faithfully reflected in #TERMARIUM “History Comes Alive”, which has been taking place on the weekend of Palm Sunday since 2015. In Baños de Montemayor, time stood still some two thousand years ago. As you walk along the streets, don’t be surprised if you see a hotel that is now a hospitium, a store that is a taberna or a restaurant that is now a caupona. Anyone who ventures into the town will encounter magicians, haruspices, and fortune-tellers offering to reveal the future. Senators and tribunes will appear, strolling with elegance and dignity alongside artisans and matrons. This is Baños de Montemayor during Roman times, when the spa was built alongside the Vía de la Plata – the very same one that continues to bring fame to the town today. Suddenly, the traveller stumbles upon the camp of the Legio X Gemina, where the steady beat of the drum and the centurion’s commands echo through the air. The bustle of the scene blends with the lively procession, joined by Iberians and Romans, locals and visitors alike, regardless of rank or status. Together, they parade through the streets to the mercatum, where the praetor delivers the proclamation that marks the beginning of #TERMARIUM. You’ll find an assortment of unusual products on sale at the mercatum as you contemplate scenes of Roman life. As the day progresses, you’ll need to eat, and the local establishments have just the thing: the “Roman Tapas Route”, a culinary experience designed to delight even the most discerning palates. As night falls, spirits will be lifted by a mesmerising fire show, culminating in a theatrical performance of Termarium – The betrayal of Galba. It’s the perfect ending to an unforgettable day, where the townspeople of Baños are the actors and actresses who perform the comedies of Terence or Plautus .

This is #TERMARIUM, the weekend when Baños de Montemayor revives its Roman heritage. Locals and visitors dress the part, bringing to life the daily routines of a provincial Roman town from the 1st century AD. But this festival that takes place on Palm Sunday weekend wouldn’t be complete without the visitors who dress up as Claudius, Agrippina, Julius Caesar, or any other Roman character to become an essential part of the #TERMARIUM experience.