Wellness
Thermae Sylla Spa Wellness Hotel
is not a hotel with a spa; it is
a world-class medical spa in a
majestic, neoclassical building that
has pride of place on a quiet corner
of Evoekos Bay. Surrounded by
mountains and scented by aromatic
h r
th
a r t o n in
and was extensively renovated
between 1996 and 1999. Open
year-round, the Spa’s landscape
and facilities are of understated
elegance. Guests “take the waters”
and have a choice of more than 100
therapeutic treatments in a setting
of sublime luxury. There is no better
medical spa in all of Greece.
How did the Spa get its name? We
must go way, way back in history for
the answer to that question. In fact,
travel back with me to sometime in
100 B.C. It was during that century
that the Roman General Syllas
visited the springs and was said
to be cured of uric arthritis. His
memory was immortalized when
the owners chose to name the
building The Thermae Sylla Spa
Wellness Hotel.
The fact that the popularity of the
healing waters has endured through
the centuries is extraordinary, even
though its renown experienced
natural periods of rise and decline.
Its fame peaked during the Belle
Èpoque “Beautiful Age” era (1871-
The view from
above
1941), when celebrities such as
Eleftheros Venizelos, Maria Callas,
Omar Sharif, Greta Garbo, Aristotle
Onassis and Winston Churchill were
drawn to the healing waters. Since
then, many other famous people have
been guests. I learned that shortly
before my stay, a Saudi princess and
her children were guests for a week.
The hotel has a variety of rooms and
suites, including two executive
The hamman
suites and one presidential suite.
Bountiful breakfast and lunch
ff t
ith ho om oo ar
off r in th
i o R ta rant
Mediterranean and international
cuisine is enjoyed by guests in
the elegant, outdoor Mesogheios
Restaurant. Lighter fare is available
at the Aithrio Bistro and at the
pool bar.
There are literally more than one
h n r tr atm nt off r to
provide relief for ailments ranging
from degenerative arthritis and
rheumatism to chronic gynecological
troubles and posttraumatic
deformities. In addition to
treatments by therapists, the spa
has an Inhalation Room of ionized
water steam, recommended for ear,
nose and throat problems. There are
also four steam and sauna baths and
a Teidarium. A warming room is
maintained at a temperature
between 30-40°C or 86-104°F
to promote relaxation and
revitalization.
Alas, I had just two mud baths during
my week at the spa, but during those
seven days I was rejuvenated and
renewed. To the lovely Vassiliki
T ati a an h r tho ht
taff
at the Thermae Syllla Spa Wellness
ot
ay a
(thank you very much). I have
undergone a metamorphosis and
been favored by the gods.
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