Naturism is the ‘doctrine that recommends using natural agents for the conservation of health and the treatment of diseases’, according to the Academic Dictionary. In addition, it is used for the ‘doctrine that defends the return to nature as a way of living‘.
On the other hand, nudism refers to the ‘attitude or behaviour of those who defend that complete nudity is convenient for a perfect physical and even moral balance’. The term nakedness is synonymous with nudism, although it is less common.
Although naturism and nudism are different ideas, many nudists consider themselves naturists, since one of their goals is to be in contact with nature. Considered from this point of view, both opinions are equally applicable, since both define the attitude they have.
Finally, a third term is sometimes used, but should not be confused with the previous ones either: naturalism, which is a ‘philosophical system’ or a ‘literary or pictorial trend’, according to the Academic Dictionary. As the Dictionary of Modern Spanish points out, a naturalist is also called a ‘specialist in natural sciences’.
What is Naturism?
At the end of the 19th century, naturism emerged as a movement that led many people to strip to regain contact with the environment after the industrial revolution.
These were years in which technological improvements had led to the arrival of many inventions -such as the combustion engine- that generated a great modernization of transport and favored the creation of machinery which helped to carry out all kinds of tasks.
However, modernization brought with it the destruction of hundreds of jobs. The places where most jobs were lost were farms and plantations, forcing a huge crowd to pack up and move to the cities. The aim: to try to find jobs in the factories that were being built in skyscrapers.
Those were the days when industrialization took over the lives of citizens. That is when naturism appeared, a social movement that – due to embarrassment, women on the beaches wore swimsuits up to their ankles- considered that it was necessary to show everyone how we were brought into the world.
This practice became so widespread in the 1920s that real villages were created to live under the premises of naturism. In fact, those who accepted to live together in these “camps” had to spend the whole day naked and do daily tasks -such as shopping or preparing food- without any clothes. In the beginning, they achieved to have a total nudist life. They lived and worked naked whenever time and weather allowed.
However, naturism and nudism were persecuted in several European countries, their social acceptance was related and conditioned by culture, since there were different religions and ways of thinking that did not accept that there were parts of the body which could be shown without shame. This caused that, in countries where these ideologies influenced political power, this practice was persecuted, annulled and understood as a criminal activity. Shortly afterwards, Hitler’s arrival put an end to this lifestyle.
What is Nudism?
Throughout the 20th century, naturism spread all over Europe and it did not take long to reach our country, where -at first- it was well received. In fact, in Spain, nudism soon spread throughout the Peninsula, gaining thousands of followers. It had such success, that even sun clubs were created in which members met without clothes; and magazines were edited and movies related to the subject were filmed.
It was a practice that became known very quickly in Spanish territory. However, the growth stopped when the war came and the subsequent regime of General Franco and the freedoms of naturists were eliminated. At that time, nudism and naturism were practiced, but followers had to hide completely. There were cases of people who, from Catalonia, travelled to France to follow this philosophy.
Since 1978, after approving the Constitution, it is no longer possible to appeal to “moral” considerations in our laws. No morality prevails over another when it comes to being protected by the laws. The right to be naked, therefore, is deduced from our Constitution (Art. 1; Arts. 14, 17 and 20; Arts. 138, 139 and 149).
“Public morality”, was the tool which articulated (in the old regime) the discriminations of moral nature in a legal form: Circular of July 6, 1957 of the Ministry of Interior, which prohibited not only “any manifestation of nudity and impropriety in the same aspect that struggles with the honesty and the good taste which are traditional of the Spaniards”, but extended the prohibition to the “use of bath clothes that are unseemly, such as those two-piece bathing suits for women and slips for men”.
With the current Constitution, all morals are of equal rank as long as they do not affect any public property protected by law and therefore no discrimination can be established, so there is no legal impediment to the practice of nudism.
In this way, nudism is fully legal on any beach, river, park, etc… and in any situation. Therefore, Spain is considered throughout Europe a paradise of nudism because of the tolerance with which this practice is carried out and because jurisprudence is not against it.
Some groups today pretend to continue to discriminate against nudity by using the offence of exhibitionism. The law is very clear on this point and accompanies it with a definition of what can be considered exhibitionism: “acts of lewdness or obscene display in front of minors or the mentally ill”. Therefore, we are talking about sexual acts in public, which can be performed with or without clothing. A person who sunbathes naked does not have to pretend to sexually provoke others.
Where we can practice it?
To say Cantarriján (Granada) is to invoke the history of nudism in Spain. It was the first Andalusian sandbank to be officially declared nudist (1982) and the association that looks after it seeks maximum visibility, distributing leaflets, promoting activities or, as happened last July 7th on World Naturist Day, installing a clothesline and those who hung up their swimsuits were rewarded with a drink at the bar.
The sea breeze, the sun as a promise of vitality, the murmur of the waves, the sensation of freedom when perceiving the elements on the surface… Everything in these well preserved sands generates a nudist impulse.
Out of the 3,000 Spanish beaches, naturism is enjoyed on about 450 of them, especially before mid-June, which is the start of the high season. The website of the Spanish Naturist Federation includes a map with sandy beaches, tourist centres and associations in Spain. The World Naturist Day is celebrated on July 7th, and Day without a Swimsuit on the 21st of July.
Where to practice Nudism in Madrid?
- Casa de Campo swimming pool: don’t be surprised to see totally naked people in the swimming pool of Casa de Campo if you go there on a Saturday between 11.30 and 14.30. Every Saturday nudism is allowed during that time.
- Barrio Pilar Municipal Pool: this pool, the Vicente del Bosque municipal pool, is not nudist, but its solarium is. There you can sunbathe without any clothes. It is located in Monforte de Lemos street. 13.
- La Elipa Municipal Pool: just like the municipal pool in Barrio del Pilar, you can sunbathe and practice nudism in the pool solarium. To cool down and swim, you will have to put on your swimsuit. You will find it in Calle O’Donell s/n.
- Hotel Spa La Princesa: you will be able to relax in its spa without having to wear a swimsuit. But beware, because nudism is only allowed on the first Sundays of the month from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 12:00 to 14:00, and on the second Thursdays of the month from 17:30 to 22:00.
- Spa Gimnasio Multigym: an area in Alcorcón where you can bathe and relax without any clothes. But only on Wednesdays from 19:00 to 22:00. It is in Calle Vizcaya nº6 de Alcorcón. There is a 50% discount for members of the Association for Naturist Development.
- Naked Spa: a place where nudism is compulsory from Sunday to Thursday, from 4pm to 10pm, and optional on Friday and Saturday and the rest of the days in the morning. To access the gym you must wear shorts. It is located at calle Adelfas, 16. There is a discount for members of the Spanish Naturist Federation.
- Private pools and activities with AANUMA: Asociación de Amigos del Nudismo en Madrid (Association of Friends of Nudism in Madrid) rents a private pool from time to time.
Nudism in the middle of nature
Naturist associations take shelter of the ‘legal vacuum’ that exists around the possibility of nudism in natural outdoor environments to ensure that any place is suitable for nudism. However, these are the ideal places to practice it in the Community of Madrid.
- Pantano de San Juan (San Juan Reservoir): the most visited ‘beach of Madrid’ during the summer is in Pantano de San Juan. There is a cove there for nudists. Nudist enthusiasts meet up on this beach, which is located a few metres before the third parking lot, on the Yelmo path. There are also other points where nudism can be practiced in the San Juan Reservoir.
- Hoya Encavera: few people know this wonderful enclave in the valley of Lozoya. They are small pools where you can feel a ‘jacuzzi effect’. And although it is a bicycle route, not many cyclists pass through. It is advisable to bring an umbrella, as there is only one tree that provides shade in this area. Where is it? At the height of Lozoyuela. You have to cross the bridge over the river and go through the tunnel under the track. It is 50 meters from the dam of La Pinilla.
- Presa de la Parra (La Parra Dam): also next to the Lozoya river, next to the Atazar reservoir and in the Patones area. It is a small reservoir, with a gravel beach and aquatic plants. It is also an area with many trees for shade.