The river everyone laughed at and many bathed in

1Image of the swimming pool of the Syndical Park, in Puerta de Hierro. THE COUNTRY

2Pre-1863 image of the banks of the Manzanares in a month of July, the work of Jean Laurent. Madrid History Museum

3Collage with images of children bathing in the Manzanares at the beginning of the century, in the magazine 'Nuevo Mundo'. MUNICIPAL HISOTIC LIBRARY / VIRTUAL LIBRARY 'MEMORIADEMADRID'

4La Isla spa, opened in 1931, which was located at the height of Príncipe Pío, near one of the entrances to Casa de Campo. COAM

5Family bathing in the Manzanares. Regional Archive of the Community of Madrid / Santos Yubero Fund.

6Bathrooms in the Nursery area, in the 1950s. VIRTUAL LIBRARY 'MEMORIADEMADRID'

7Baths under the French Bridge. MUNICIPAL HISTORICAL LIBRARY

8Project by the Gatepac group of architects to create sports facilities and homes in Jarama, in the 1930s. COURTESY OF CARLOS SAMBRICIO

9 Recorded with the Manzanares baths and the Royal Palace in the background. VIRTUAL LIBRARY 'MEMORIADEMADRID'

10 Recent appearance of La Playa de Madrid. The rationalist layout of the structure can be appreciated, finished off after the Civil War with 'imperial' style finishes, such as those seen in the tower in the background. COAM

11Engraving of some bathers in the Manzanares, in the 19th century. MUNICIPAL HISOTIC LIBRARY / VIRTUAL LIBRARY 'MEMORIADEMADRID'

12Recent appearance of La Playa de Madrid. The rationalist design of the structure can be appreciated, finished off after the Civil War with 'imperial' style finishes, such as the one that crowns the lighthouse. COAM

13Bath in the Manzanares. Image of the photographer Martín Santos Yubero, of which there is no date. Courtesy of the Regional Archive of the Community of Madrid. Regional Archive of the Community of Madrid. Martín Santos Yubero Fund

14Poster of the works of the Union Spa, current Sports Center of Puerta de Hierro, in 1954. Regional Archive of the Community of Madrid. Martín Santos Yubero Fund

15 Footbridge over the Manzanares in 1935. Regional Archive of the Community of Madrid. Martín Santos Yubero Fund

16A lumberjack cuts a log near the La Isla pool, on the left, in the 1930s. Madrid History Museum / Virtual Library 'memoriademadrid'

17Baths in the Manzanare. Image by photographer Jean Laurent, captured in 1901. Madrid History Museum / Virtual Library 'memoriademadrid'

18Comedy cartoons ridiculing the low flow of the Manzanares and referring to the one known as the Wonder Bath. From ancient times there were many writings in which the river was caricatured. Quevedo and Tirso call him 'dwarf', and the former says of him that he has so little flow that "mosquitoes and frogs" die of thirst. Madrid History Museum / Virtual Library 'memoriademadrid'

19Comedy series about the Manzanares baths, in the 19th century. Madrid History Museum / Virtual Library 'memoriademadrid'

20Comedy series about the Manzanares baths, in the 19th century. Madrid History Museum / Virtual Library 'memoriademadrid'

21The banks of the Manzanares, with the Royal Palace in the background, Virtual library 'memoriademadrid'

22La Playa de Madrid, in an undated photo. Virtual Library 'memoriademadrid'

23Project for some baths with a swimming school in Manzanares, the Pórtici Establishment, from 1835. Madrid History Museum

24View of the Manzanares at the San Juan festival, where bathers can be seen in the Manzanares. Anonymous 17th century painting from the Madrid School. Abelló Collection

25Detail of the painting by Félix Castelo "Baños en el Manzanares en el paraje de Molino Quemado", around 1634 or 1637, in which you can see the bathers in the river. Madrid History Museum