There are historic documents that state that the therapeutic use of the Mondariz Spa waters from the 19th century, but it is possible that it was in use some years before. In 1282 the ill Princess Isabel of Aragón, the future Saint Isabel, married King Dinís I, King of Portugal, in the place then known as Troncoso. There is some controversy about the location of a Roman military road starting from the current Tui, and the ancient Roman town of “Búrbida”, which some place near the river Tea where bubbles can be seen - the current mineral-medicinal waters of the Troncoso Spring. And it is probable that the waters were used in the inhabitants' baths of Sobroso Castle, some 3 kms from the complex. 1850 -1870 Due to the earthquakes in the area of Pontevedra up until the end of the 18th century, the village population declined until it became a tiny hamlet in the 19th century. In the 19th century, Domingo Blanco Lage - native of Mondariz - rediscovered the Troncoso spring. The existence of mineral water is stated in the “Complete Report on Mineral Springs in Spain” written by Pedro Rubio. The first attempts to establish spa tourism in the village, using private houses to accommodate the water users, failed. 1870 –1872 With the intention of buying a spa Enrique Peinador Vela journeyed over these years around the province of Pontevedra, to get to know all the mineral water springs in the area. It seems that thanks to the marvels that were mentioned about the Mondariz waters, and the success of Domingo Blanco Lage’s therapies, he paid special attention to the Troncoso Spring. 1872 -1873 In 1872, The Gándara Spring was discovered. The following year Ramón, brother of Enrique Peinador, requested the declaration for public use of these waters. The declaration arrived on 16th June 1873. It is on this date that the Mondariz Spa history begins. 1873 -1898 It is said that in 1877 around one million bottles of mineral water were bottled in Mondariz. Three years later, the baths were opened and talk began of spa tourism. The original building had two floors: the lower floor dedicated to baths and the taking of waters, and the higher floor for accommodation. In 1883 it already had 60 bedrooms, a swimming pool, rest and relaxation room. A year later the dining room was opened,... and so the bath house grew year on year. 1898 - 1973 The needs generated by the great number of people who came to Mondariz led to the inauguration of the Great Hotel in 1898, a work by Don Genaro de la Fuente. The building had the best construction and decoration elements of its time. And over time, the hotel was completed with new parts such as a greenhouse, chapel, own electricity generator, etc, its own coin was minted, and the Opera Programme was developed. Thanks to its worldwide fame, life at the Spa was very intense. Among the guests were: the General Primo de Rivera, Princess Isabel de Borbón, Isaac Peral, the Countess of Pardo Bazán, José de Echegaray, notable writers and politicians of the time. In 1914, the hotel had a staff of 352 people. 1973 -1994 After the Civil War, a period during which the Great Hotel was used as a military hospital, the spa declined. Closing its doors as a result of the dreadful fire that destroyed the building on 9th April 1973. Spa life continued but was reduced to the old bath house. 1994 -2000 After exhaustive restoration work of the “La Baranda” building, Tryp Hoteles began to manage the new Hotel-Spa. In 1999, the “Palacios” building was also renovated, a spectacular granite building that began to be built in 1909 as a hospital-hotel, and was later granted to the University of Santiago for use as a Hydrotherapy Institute, but work was never finished. 2000 -2005 After the merger with Tryp Hoteles, Sol Meliá took charge of the hotel complex management. That same year, the 18-hole gold course, design by Álvaro Arana was inaugurated. The re-modelling work done over the last few years has managed to give the complex all the splendour of past eras, determining facilities and services that cover: a first-rate hotel, an avant-garde spa, a conference and convention centre and a competition golf course. With the inauguration of the Water Palace and the renovation of the Great Hotel ruins as a complex of luxury apartments, all the enchantment of the past was returned in 2005 to the heart of the town.