Fortuna: thermal water from Roman baths to today's spa

Fortuna's thermal water gives the town a different rhythm from the dry hills around it. At Los Baños, bathing has deep roots, and the Balneario de Leana continues the spa tradition. Nearby Cueva Negra carries the older Roman religious story through inscriptions linked to a sanctuary. Together they show that water here was valued for more than irrigation.

The local story

The regional tourism authority traces the resort to ancient use and describes remains of Roman baths. The spa buildings visitors see today belong to later phases, while the cave and other archaeological sites need separate interpretation. Fortuna's centre adds the church of La Purísima and civic streets. A visit works best when each layer is given its own setting rather than collapsed into one timeless 'Roman spa'.

Plan the visit

Begin in town, then visit Los Baños as a paying guest or with the operator's permission. Check current bathing, access and health information directly with the spa. For Cueva Negra, use official visitor guidance; cave surfaces and inscriptions are protected and should never be touched. Dry open ground between stops calls for water and sun protection even when the spa itself feels sheltered.

How it connects

Abanilla's Río Chícamo provides a natural counterpart: flowing surface water through an equally arid landscape.

Sources

Written in September 2026 using Turismo Región de Murcia.