Thermae Sylla Spa and Wellness Hotel is not just Greece’s finest Thermal Spa, it’s one of the premier Thermal Spa facilities in the world. Just a couple of hours drive and a charming short ferry ride brings you from central Athens to Edipsos (Aidipsos), on the shores of southern Evia, a view of Mt. Parnassus majestic across the waters.
A Greek Spa and Wellness Destination with a Pedigree
Amid the antiquities, the glamorous islands, and the pristine beaches, Greece is sometimes overlooked as a premier Spa and Wellness destination. But it is. In fact, decades before international visitors flocked to the beaches, during the height of the Belle Epoque, it was Spa and Wellness destinations that first drew them to Greece. And there was no destination more elegant and famed than Thermae Sylla Spa and Wellness Hotel.
This gorgeous historic hotel opened in 1896. But the story of Thermae Sylla starts centuries earlier. The therapeutic thermal waters of Edipsos had long been famous. They were already known in the time of Aristotle, and written about by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historiae as well as by Athinaeus in his Deipnosophistae. Thermae Sylla takes its name from the Roman General Sylla, alternatively Sulla, who took the waters here in the 1st century BC to healing effect.
While this was already a popular wellness destination, there was not yet a modern hotel of European standards to offer hospitality to international guests. Thermae Sylla was elegantly designed by the architect Erricos Tobazis in grand neoclassical style with elements of Art Nouveau. The building is constructed of stone from Evia, and it incorporated every modern amenity of the day. During the construction of the grand hotel, the ruins of a Roman spa were discovered. You can see them now near the present spa.
The setting is spectacular, so dramatically close to the sea that you feel as though you’re on a ship. Thermae Sylla Spa and Wellness Hotel has a strong sense of place.
And a Guestlist with a Pedigree
Queen Olga, wife of King George I of Greece, enjoyed a stay here in 1907. Other illustrious guests include Greta Garbo, Omar Sharif, Winston Churchill, Aristotle Onasis and, of course, Maria Callas – always the last word in Greece on matters of elegance and taste.
Restored and Reinvigorated at Thermae Sylla
– That’s not just you after your visit, but Thermae Sylla itself. The present owners have restored, at considerable expense, this grand historic hotel to its original elegance.
Plush fabrics and a tasteful cool palette give the classically decorated rooms a fresh touch, as do the luxurious marble bathrooms. The salon and bar have the same fresh and modern take on classical elegance.
But the heart of the experience is of course the Spa. As splendid as the hotel is, it’s really all about the spa. Owner Voula Karatziou Anastasopoulou is passionate about the excellence of the spa experience: “Thermae Sylla is not a Hotel with a Spa. It’s a spa with a hotel attached.” This is why you are here – the state of the art spa. The principal spa facilities are open to all guests.
The Waters of Thermae Sylla
Famous since ancient times, these mineral rich waters provide a wide range of benefits. The waters contain calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and sulfate, as well as trace elements including manganese, iron, and strontium (enhances bone health). They are indicated in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, respiratory illnesses, skin disorders, and gynaecological disorders. These are some of the most highly rated therapeutic waters in the world.
While we’re happy there is some solid scientific foundation for the waters’ quality, we can add our own empirical evidence. The waters left our skin plumped, smooth and glowing. We were so rejuvenated and radiant we probably would have needed an ID to get a bottle of Vodka if we were in Salt Lake City.
Waters are medicine, and as such they have recommended bathing times. We took breaks by relaxing on the chaise longues in a glassed-in terrace overlooking the splendid pool.
The Spa Facilities at Thermae Sylla
When Thermae Sylla first opened, guests took the wa