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ОглавлениеGushing thermal jets and pools at Negombo Giardini Termali (Negombo Thermal Gardens).
Campania
Campania is renowned throughout Italy for its sun-blessed, curative climate, classical architecture and dramatic coastline, with the offshore bijou isle of Ischia a haven of natural spa therapies.
Mosaic at Herculaneum Thermae (Roman Baths).
In this region some of Italy’s wildest terrain surges with natural, primeval energy, with smouldering volcanic craters, knotted patchworks of aged olive groves, rock-studded cliffs and eerie lakes shrouded in ancient health myths. First discovered by recuperating Greeks and Romans, Italy’s self-proclaimed ‘therapeutic hub’ is a rich source of health-giving natural properties, from sparkling lagoons of thermal mineral-rich seawater to deep-penetrating healing mud. Both the Greeks and Romans built several bathing venues in Campania to fully exploit the natural geological and hydrothermal phenomenon. Today these once-grandiose column-flanked complexes can be enjoyed as fine archaeological ruins. Beautifully preserved under volcanic water, ash and carbonized debris, you can visit the ‘lost’ city of Herculaneum, south-east of Naples, where you can view the Thermae (Roman Baths) and see the pools’ original mosaics, washroom and lockers.
Magnetic, Steam and Volcanic Therapies
The island of Ischia offers more than its fair share of unrivalled spa delights. Renowned for its thermal gardens – a collection of hot natural pools within a park – Ischia has long been a place of tranquil relaxation where visitors can dip in and out of curative waters. A year-round pleasing climate and Ischia’s nutrient-rich spring waters are very good reasons why the island is home to some of the best spas in Italy.
In the pretty Bay of Citara the island’s very own Eden can be found in the Giardini Termali Poseidon (Poseidon Thermal Gardens) – Ischia’s body and soul therapeutic retreat. Built in harmony with the natural surroundings, the garden’s healing and beneficial powers are said to bring about a holistic feeling of balance and well-being. As a consequence, it is frequented by a wide range of visitors, from those suffering from chronic fatigue or attempting to slow the signs of ageing to people keen to address metabolic imbalances, stress and a variety of medical complaints. The locals swear the garden’s thermal baths contain some of the most curative waters in Europe, due to their volcanic origins.
3 things you must not miss
1 Caserta Vecchia Vist the handsome Roman hamlet of Caserta Vecchia, at the foot of Mount Virgo, which was founded by the Lombards in the 8th century. www.casertavecchia.net
2 Mount Vesuvius One of the smallest active volcanoes in the world, you can climb to the top along a steep gravel path. www.parconazionaledelvesuvio.it
3 Palazzo dello Spagnolo This spectacular Naples palazzo is a stunning edifice, with grand staircases, archways and stuccoed transoms. www.inaples.it
INFORMATION
GIARDINI TERMALI POSEIDON t + 39 081 908 71 11
Lush gardens and easily accessible thermal bathing pools, fountains and walking trails. Entrance fee €25–30 (spa therapies extra).
NEGOMBO GIARDINI TERMALI t +39 081 98 61 52
Flower-filled parklands containing a thermal bathing venue. Entrance €30–35 (spa therapies extra).
JKSPA t +39 081 838 40 01
Enjoy top-of-the-range pampering with poolside views of softly rounded hills, gorgeous sea panoramas and sunsets. Budget for€120 for a full-hour marine algae body rub complete with coarse-grain marine nutrients.
Mineral-rich baths at the Giardini Termali Poseidon (Poseidon Thermal Gardens).
Various massages are offered either in the waters or in a therapy suite together with a range of therapies including volcanic mud masks for dermatological complaints.
Similarly, the Negombo Giardini Termali (Negombo Thermal Gardens) have long attracted wellness tourists looking for natural health solutions. Islanders believe the thermal springs here have been used since antiquity for the treatment of bodily aches, pains and fatigue because of their healing chemical properties and spectacular beach-front location.
Glitzy Capri
On Capri, the centres for well-being are a more sophisticated, modern affair yet also promote many of the ancient natural health philosophies. The JKSPA at the JK Place hotel is 100 per cent futuristic in design with its minimalist simplicity and sleek, uncluttered style. Though housed in a classic 19th-century building built on top of some Roman cisterns and a stretch of Roman road, the JKSPA is up-to-the-minute. Yet, beyond the ultra-swish modernity you’ll find plenty of old-fashioned Italian hospitality and health ideas. The emphasis here is on opulence and a sumptuous range of decadent body wraps using mega-rich clay and mud and purifying herbs and marine algae ensures just that. Although, to the tension-wracked fresh arrivals the greatest luxury of all could just be the blissful peacefulness and jaw-dropping views out across the sea.
