Over the last few years, there has been a resurgence in Galician spas which is not the result of a passing fashion, but rather of constant, serious work, accompanied by important investments made by the businesspersons who are members of the Asociación Gallega de la Propiedad Balnearia (Galician Association of Spa Property).

  Galicia has vast mineral-medicinal resources in its soils, as there are more than three hundred sources registered, of which twenty are used by spas. These are mainly found inland, where they have been carrying out important work in stimulating our economy. Likewise, the spas have modern facilities in which only qualified professionals work, a fact which, added to the quality of our mineral-medicinal waters, and the guarantee offered to the consumer through the adhesion to strict regulations, means that Galicia is becoming a reference for prestige in the area of health tourism.

  As regards the Association, it was established in 1985 with the objective of representing and promoting the Galician thermal sector, and at present it has twenty spas associated: Carballo in the province of Corunna; Brea, Cuntis, Mondariz, Caldelas de Tui, La Toja (Gran Hotel and Isla de La Toja), Acuña and Dávila (both in Caldas de Reis), in the province of Pontevedra; Lugo, Río Pambre, Guitiriz and Augas Santas, in the province of Lugo; and Arnoia, Baños de Molgas, Caldas de Partovia, Carballiño, Laias (Cenlle), Lobios (Riocaldo) and Sousas (Verín), in the province of Ourense.

  All the above-mentioned are considered as spas, regardless of whether they are located in the town or the country, because they comply with the regulations in force in Galicia, which state the following:

  1°) "Spatherapy" is the curative method from the effect of the therapeutic action of mineral-medicinal or thermal waters.

  2°) In accordance with article 2.1.a) of Law 5/1995, of 7th June, for the regulation of mineral, thermal and spring waters and the spa establishments of the Autonomous Region of Galicia, "mineral-medicinal waters: are those which come from a natural or artificial source and which due to their characteristics and qualities are declared of public utility and are suitable for therapeutic treatments".

  3°) In accordance with article 2.2 of the aforementioned Law, "thermal waters: are those waters in which their emergence temperature is at least four degrees centigrade higher than the annual average of the place of their source".

  4°) Based on article 1 of the Order of the Ministry of Health of 5th November 1996, which regulates the sanitary authorisation of the spa establishments in the Autonomous Region of Galicia, "the consideration of spa establishment will be given to those establishments which, once equipped with the suitable resources, use the mineral-medicinal or thermal waters declared to be of public utility for therapeutic and preventive purposes for the health".

  On the other hand, for the regulation development of the Law of 1995, the Regulations for the use of mineral-medicinal and thermal waters and the spa establishments of the Autonomous Region of Galicia (Decree 402/1996, of 31st October). The enactment and placing into practice of these regulations, which incorporate the Community legislation on the subject to our legal code, was of unquestionable interest and benefit for the protection, in quantity and quality, of our waters, as well as being a real guarantee for the spa-goers.

For this reason, we would encourage you to enjoy the Spas of Galicia, where the difference is in the water.