The Treccani dictionary defines it in a handful of words, “a climatic and balneotherapy cure carried out in a marine setting”, but in Italian hotels with golf it can mean six seawater pools, a brackish pool among the rocks or a programme run by a medical director.
Thalassotherapy is a word you meet more and more often in hotel spas. The Treccani dictionary defines it as “a climatic and balneotherapy cure carried out in a marine setting”: the idea is to make use of seawater, warm or cold, together with the climate and the sunlight. In hotel practice, however, the term covers very different things: heated seawater pools, circuits with jets and hydromassage, treatments with algae or salts. Here is how to read the offer and where thalassotherapy can be combined with golf.
For the effects of the treatments, the indications and the contraindications (pregnancy, heart problems, blood pressure and so on), you need a doctor’s opinion; venues with a medical director are the right point of reference.
What “thalasso” really means in a hotel
There is no single definition of what a circuit contains. When you book, it is worth asking:
- Where does the water come from? Straight from the sea, filtered, or prepared with sea salts? Some hotels state it: at Alassio, for example, water from the Ligurian Sea feeds the spa’s indoor pool.
- How many pools and at what temperature? Forte Village speaks of six seawater pools at different temperatures and salinities.
- Who supervises the circuit? At Alassio the spa is run by a medical director; elsewhere the circuit is self-guided and you manage it on your own.
- How long does it last? At Masseria San Domenico there are one-day and three-day programmes.
Where to try it: five hotels with golf nearby
Sardinia: Forte Village, in Pula
Guests staying at Villa del Parco have direct access to the Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa: the thalassotherapy circuit winds through a private tropical garden, among six seawater pools. Alongside the massages there are aesthetic medicine, Ayurvedic treatments and a park for yoga, meditation and Pilates. For golf, the reception arranges tee times, transfers and rentals for 27 holes at Is Molas.
Liguria: Alassio
The Grand Hotel Alassio has the Thalassio Medical Spa, 1,500 m² in a glass pyramid building. The indoor pool with hydromassage is fed with water from the Ligurian Sea; there are also a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath, a Kneipp circuit and nine treatment rooms. According to the hotel it is open from March to January, from 9 am to 8 pm (until 11 pm on Fridays), including to non-residents. The course the hotel recommends is Garlenda, about ten minutes away by car.
Apulia: Masseria San Domenico
The spa of Masseria San Domenico is built around thalassotherapy, with one-day and three-day programmes and olive oil rituals. The main pool is brackish water, surrounded by natural rocks. The hotel is reserved for guests aged 14 and over. San Domenico Golf, 18 holes, par 72 on the Adriatic, belongs to the same owners.
Sicily: Verdura
At the Irene Forte Spa in Verdura, 4,000 m², there are four outdoor seawater thalassotherapy pools, with treatments based on plants from the resort’s organic garden. The Kyle Phillips courses, including the Verdura Golf Club, are within the resort.
Elba: Hermitage
At Biodola, the Hotel Hermitage combines massages and treatments in its wellness centre with a circuit of sauna, Turkish bath, thalassotherapy and aromatherapy hydromassage. The personalised programmes put together treatments, golf, tennis or swimming and a light menu; the hotel’s nine-hole course lies behind the building, above the beach.
Thalasso and golf: how to organise your days
- Balance rounds and circuit. With a three-day programme, like the one at Masseria San Domenico, golf has to fit around the spa’s hours, not the other way round.
- Check the seasonal opening. The Alassio spa is open, according to the hotel, from March to January: always check the dates of your stay.
- Ask about the minimum age. Masseria San Domenico admits guests from the age of 14.
- Talk to the medical director, where there is one. If you have medical conditions or take medication, the final word belongs to the doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is thalassotherapy?+
According to Treccani it is a “climatic and balneotherapy cure carried out in a marine setting”: it uses seawater, climate and sun. In hotels it usually means a circuit of seawater pools with jets and hydromassage, and treatments with marine products.
Where can you try thalassotherapy in Italy near a golf course?+
Five addresses: Forte Village (Pula, Is Molas), Grand Hotel Alassio (Garlenda), Masseria San Domenico (San Domenico Golf), Verdura Resort (Sciacca) and Hotel Hermitage (Elba).
Can you do it in winter?+
It depends on the venue: the spa of the Grand Hotel Alassio is open, according to the hotel, from March to January; for the others, check the calendar on the hotel’s website.
How long does a thalassotherapy programme last?+
It depends on the programme: at Masseria San Domenico there are one-day and three-day programmes; elsewhere you get access to the pools for a single session.
Is thalassotherapy suitable for everyone?+
It depends on the person: for contraindications and for anyone with particular health conditions, you need the opinion of a doctor or of the spa’s medical director.
Can I play golf on the same day?+
It depends on the spa’s hours and your tee time: ask the reception to arrange them together. The practical advice is to play in the morning and leave the spa circuit for the afternoon.
