Periódico: Tourism and Hospitality International Journal
Fonte: Tourism and Hospitality International Journal ; Vol. 9 No. 2 (2017): December 2017 [18th edition - EE]; 4-28
Palavras-chave:
Resumo: We will briefly outline the chronological evolution of the hill fort Iron Age of the north-eastern peninsular, as well as the sauna resorts. These are monuments with an oven, hypogea construction type, with a unique, complex architecture; despite having some constructive uniformity, present a significant architectural variety also associated, probably, with various thermal models. There are about three dozen known saunas spread over the northwest peninsular, a geographical area covering the north of Galicia and Asturias and extending to the south of the Douro River.
The complex architecture of these monuments is structurally organized to allow cold water baths and sauna baths made by steam production, being composed by an outdoor atrium and an antechamber and an indoor camera and a hypogea oven. The two areas are divided by a tectiforme stele, monolithic, usually ornamented, and that separates one area from the other, allowing entry through a small opening in a semicircle, known as beautiful stone. The functionality of these monuments has generated, through the ages, several publications resulting from a great interpretive diversity, being the most consensual sauna function at present. However, the symbolic role they would have in the Iron Age society of the peninsular Northwest remains enveloped in mysticism, associated with the worship of the waters and the sanctity of the medicinal purifying bath, while also promoting various research. These monuments, undoubtedly the most ancient resorts of this geographical area, precursors of the current thermal baths, still have a great tourist potential that is urgent to develop, so we suggest the creation a touristic-cultural itinerary.
