Spa colmegna - A piece of Ancient Rome in Buenos Aires

In the confines of Sarmiento 839, lies what was once described as a portal to paradise in Buenos Aires. The Colmegna SpaThe building, a construction that recounts in marble remains and bronze fittings the pleasures of ancient lands, is today only a reminder of the hedonism bestowed on us from ancient Rome.

The Colmegna Spa has been known as a source of healing grace and a solace of relaxation for thousands of people since its foundation in 1895. Great celebrities, politicians, professionals, judges; and all those who once managed to place their bodies in the care of the competent hands of the staff of this centre; mourned its loss at the hands of the incident that caused its closure on 8 November 2019.

As has been attributed to it, the Colmegna Spa will be marked in Argentine history as a heritage of culture, peace and personal pleasure, waiting to one day rise from the ashes into the open arms of the community where it was born.

Today we'll take you on a tour down memory lane of one of the most iconic grooming centres in the Midlands, so read on to the end of this interesting story.

History of the Colmegna Spa: from the baths of ancient Rome to the Argentinean pleasure palace in 120 years

The Colmegna Spa was built in 1895 by the Italian Luis Colmegna, who, having settled in the city, decided to inaugurate a space inspired by the thermal baths of his native land, intended to promote the hygiene and personal care of the men of the time.

At that time, there was only a single floor with hot baths and a few additional rooms for cooling, of what was originally the Colmegna Medical Institute for Hydro Electrotherapy.

With time and the evolution of concepts related to personal care, Colmegna was renamed a spa, and its portfolio of services expanded considerably to include all kinds of pleasures that its guests, this time men and women, could enjoy unhindered in complete discretion and exclusivity.

However, it was during the 50's, with the change of leadership from father to son, that the one-storey Colmegna Institute was transformed into the fabulous six-storey building, more than sixty metres deep, that it is today. It retains its representative Italian architecture.

Thus, with the rebirth of a new structure, the new ideology of the Colmegna Spa introduced all kinds of innovative treatments in cosmetology and body shaping on 8,000 metres of floor space, shifting the focus from health care to a broader spectrum of freedom and aesthetic beauty.

Now you could enjoy gymnasium, swimming pool, hairdresser, pedicure, various massage techniques, Turkish baths, saunas, steam baths; and any number of rejuvenating services in specially designed tours for men and women, which were kept completely separate in different areas of the place.

Other services offered by the colmegna Spa

In the 1970s, the Colmegna Spa evolved in its techniques towards the demand of the female public and began to favour a complete beauty philosophy. Treatments for women advanced from a simple aesthetic sense or body care; to encompass a selection of services focused on building the perfect body.

By then, the Colmegna Spa was at the top of the public clamour; leading a market where there was no competition that could stand up to its unparalleled dedication. Memorable events took place within its walls, not only visited by important figures in history.

It wasn't until the 1980's that a group of sensual masseuses were added to the technical staff, and the legends about the acclaimed pleasures Colmegna offered its clients began to take on a much more erotic tinge.

From that moment on, rumours began to run rampant about VIP rooms and sexual services provided by vip escorts during the men's tours of the Spa; perhaps settled by the distrust of many conservative wives and women of the time; who looked with suspicion at the new additions to what had been a safe haven from reality for all.

Descent

Nevertheless, when the 21st century settled in, the façade was remodelled with a mixture of cheap materials to give the building a new look; however, it did not withstand the ravages of the Argentine economy, and the Colmegna Spa also fell with her when they lashed hard.

In 2016 the crisis overtook the Colmegna family's ability to maintain the paradise they had built for three generations. So, with great regret, they accepted that it was time to leave behind their legacy in new hands; a sale was made to a group that would undertake to care for and restore the place to its former glory.

However, the objective did not have a chance to be fulfilled; due to the construction of the new underground at Sarmiento 361 by the company Dycassa S.A. (which passed only 12 metres below Colmegna); on 8 November 2019 the pillars of the building shook and quickly began to collapse in some areas.

Customers and staff were quickly evacuated; the pools leaked due to the trembling caused. The collapse and flooding made the structure so unstable that the authorities had to close the premises for fear of a complete collapse.

What is the current state of the Colmegna Spa?

According to the latest reports, the ruins of what was once a paradise have lost all the splendour that characterised it, and so far, only the remains of the building can be seen, which is still standing, but sealed by police tape.

At present, the Spa colmegna is a place of cracked walls and dry pools with services completely cut off. The Arabescato marble on the walls and the fine woodwork brought from Europe have been shattered by time; beaten down by the near collapse, and of the six floors of luxurious facilities there is nothing left but a painted structure and rubble around it.

Conclusion

Despite having been reduced to ruins; the Colmegna Spa stands in the memory of the people as a historical treasure of the Argentine nation. And like him, many other complexes have become part of the culture that surrounds the world of the VIP escorts.

If you want to know more about the history of prostitution and its most emblematic places around the world; visit our blog and you can learn about the most famous prostitutes in history at High class escorts or on the Parties, orgies and lust of ancient Greece wrapped in the legend of Pan and Dionysus.