Travel and leisure
Interests
Spa holidays
If you really want to spoil yourself on holiday, why not stay at a spa resort? Spa holidays offer a relaxed and holistic approach, where ancient practices come together in a sophisticated modern environment
Salus per aquam - health from water
The oldest known spa in existence can be found in the small town of Merano in Italy, and there is evidence of its use as early as 3000BC. The Egyptians used spas for therapeutic purposes as early as 2000BC, but it was the Greeks who developed the idea of the spa as we know it today. They would build spas near natural hot springs and volcanoes, and meet to discuss philosophical views and treat their physical ailments.
When they came to power, the Romans adapted the use of spas and baths, transforming them from their therapeutic origins to a more carefree venue for recreation and leisure. The word ‘spa’ was established by the Romans and is actually the name of a small village in Belgium. Roman soldiers would stop here to treat their aching muscles and wounds in the villages’ hot mineral springs.
The idea of the spa has been adopted and used around the world, melded with local traditions to produce something unique in each country. In Japan, the custom was for a family to spend time in the ‘ofuro’ (freestanding wooden tubs with hot water in them). This would later be westernised as the hot tub.
Native Americans frequently used natural springs (must notable in Berkely Springs), while the colonials created hydrotherapy. And it was exactly 50 years ago that an Italian family of seven brothers led by Joseph Jacuzzi invented a portable whirlpool pump.
Whether you're looking for an aromatic herbal body wrap, the unique experience of a mud bath, a herbal oil head massage or reflexology, spa holidays around the world offer you the chance to relax and unwind in tranquil surroundings.
