Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Splendour and decadence of spa tourism in the
island of Gran Canaria
Rodríguez BC (1) , Jiménez JF (1) , Navarro E (2) , Jiménez Y (3) ,
Camacho C (1) , Jiménez C (3)
(1) Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canarias, Spain
(2) Hidrología Médica. Universidad de La Laguna. La Laguna. Tenerife, Spain
(3) Universidad de San Pablo-Ceu, Madrid, Spain
jjimenez@denf.ulpgc.es
Introduction and Objectives
To describe the situation of splendour and decadence in the use of spas by health
tourism in the island of Gran Canaria.
Materials and Methods
Historical description of two spas in Gran Canaria: Azuaje and Berrazales.
Results
Initially, in Gran Canaria, Health Tourism was associated with the Big Rest formula.
This began in the XIX century, when English travellers following the itinerary
by steam boats to get to Cape Town, found an island with the best winter in
Europe, a great climate and manatial and thermal waters.
The island of Gran Canaria represents a limited environment. It is called a “Miniature
Continent” since it has different climates and a variety of landscapes. This is
the reason why this island has turned into a tourist lure. Gran Canaria was viewed
as one of the best health tourist destinations. Many travellers took the advantage of
the perfect microclimates that Gran Canaria offers, and came to stay on the island
for a long period of time in order to rest and get over various diseases.
During the second half of the 19th century, Gran Canaria was well-known to the
wealthy tourists of northern and central Europe. They visited the island and took
medicinal baths in the ancient resorts of Azuaje and Los Berrazales, found in the
north of Gran Canaria, and also enjoyed the islands excellent weather at any time of
the year. (Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria 2012).
Unfortunately, since the second half of the past century, those stately buildings
have been out of use. Both private and state companies have taken the initiative to
rehabilitate the facilities in order to promote health tourism but this goal has not yet
been achieved.
People used to come to the spas to convalesce from different illnesses. The highly-therapeutic
water still flows in the ancient Doramas forest - where Azuaje was
located - at a spot that also boasts the best of the islands fine weather. On the Los
Berrazales ravine, at the seaside town of Agaete, we find the remains of the ancient
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 444-445
444
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4