![\"\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1](\"http:\/\/kritsinelias.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1-\u0391\u03b9\u03b4\u03b7\u03c8\u03bf\u03c5-2.png\")
<\/p>\nHistorical data<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The “Ellopia” of Ionians in \u201cHerodotus Histories “, the “Aidepsos\u201d mentioned in Aristotle’s \u201cMeteorology\u201d , the Aedepso in “Natural History” of Pliny, the Edipsos in “Geography” of Strabo, “Of Euboea<\/span>‘s<\/span> Edipsos <\/span>t<\/span>hou warm ” <\/span>of <\/span>Plutarch, the <\/span>Leipsos<\/span> of folk <\/span>tradition <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Lipso <\/span>of <\/span>Alexander Moraitidis, <\/span>are <\/span>nothing but a long history references <\/span>to <\/span>the same city, <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>bathin <\/span>resort of Edipsos <\/span>(Loutropolis of Edipsos)<\/span>.<\/span> It remains unknown when and by whom it was built, <\/span>however, <\/span>it is certain that the <\/span>thermal<\/span> water was known before the 4th century, since according to the descriptions of Strabo, <\/span>it was named <\/span>“Hercules <\/span>Thermal<\/span>“. <\/span>According to <\/span>mythology, the goddess Athena asked Hephaestus to provide <\/span>thermal <\/span>water <\/span>to <\/span>region, so th<\/span>en she could give it<\/span> to Hercules.<\/span><\/p>\n At the end of the 19th century the independent Greek state begins its reconstruction process and the Baths of Edipsos certainly follow the same pattern. The street plan of the new city was confided to Bavarian scientists and was an initiative of Queen Olga, according to the modern standards and the first Greek urbanization sample, which was the neighboring spa town of Oreoi, undertook by her predecessor, Queen Amalia.\u00a0<\/span>Queen Olga, wife <\/span>of <\/span>King George<\/span> I., <\/span>had a soft spot <\/span>for <\/span>the city, where <\/span>s<\/span>he founded <\/span>her <\/span>homonymous orphanage of that time, <\/span>indeed, she<\/span> was hosted in 1907 for some time at the hotel “THERMAE SYLLA”. The touris<\/span>tic<\/span> reconstruction essentially begins in 1896 when the <\/span>big<\/span> landowner <\/span>Errikos<\/span> Tompazis builds the first modern hotel complex, the THERMAE SYLLA.<\/span><\/p>\n Since 1912, <\/span>the <\/span>seat of the <\/span>M<\/span>unicipality is transferred to the Baths and <\/span>with the <\/span>contribution of refugees from Asia Minor, who arrived after <\/span>19<\/span>22,\u00a0<\/span>new impetus <\/span>is given<\/span> to the development of the city, to fisheries, agriculture and trade. <\/span>During <\/span>the period of German occupation, cosmopolitan baths <\/span>were fortunate<\/span> . The occupation army used the hotel complexes <\/span>for reception and <\/span>accommodation <\/span>for <\/span>injured <\/span>soldiers, <\/span>thus<\/span> avoiding<\/span> the spa’s <\/span>destruction.<\/span><\/p>\n After the war was over, they are quickly becoming once again the attraction for thousands of visitors. This time they arrive from the prosperous Egypt, Cyprus, Europe and America, people of politics, art and wealth, like Churchill, Onassis, Maria Callas, Greta Garbo, Omar Sharif, and Kostas Varnalis, spent pleasant hours, enjoying the accommodation and entertainment, while Menela\u03bfs Lountemis, at his adolescent age, writes his book “Good Night Life\u201d while working there as a waiter. Dimitris Psathas and Fokion Dimitriadis are having fun, teasing each other in the Aigli garden, some time later.<\/span><\/p>\n Historical data The “Ellopia” of Ionians in \u201cHerodotus Histories “, the “Aidepsos\u201d mentioned in Aristotle’s \u201cMeteorology\u201d , the Aedepso in “Natural History” of Pliny, the <\/p>\n![\"\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1](\"http:\/\/kritsinelias.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1-\u0391\u03b9\u03b4\u03b7\u03c8\u03bf\u03c5-1.png\")
H<\/span>ydrotherapy <\/span>was <\/span>introduced <\/span>by <\/span>Hippocrates a<\/span>s a<\/span> healing method of many diseases, in the mid-5th century. This innovation has been very successful and Asclepieia <\/span>were <\/span>converted to regular <\/span>sanatoriums<\/span> where Balneotherapy <\/span>was <\/span>exercised with system and method, and <\/span>was almost\u00a0<\/span>established as <\/span>a<\/span> basic need <\/span>for <\/span>healthy <\/span>or unhealthy <\/span>people<\/span>. <\/span>During t<\/span>he Roman <\/span>domination’s era, it <\/span>reaches <\/span>the climax of its glory. <\/span>Plutarch in his book “Life of Sulla” mentioned both,<\/span> the natural beauty and rich flora and fauna of Edipsos area, <\/span>as well as <\/span>the famous banquets, which almost always accompany the spa. There, along with the <\/span>serving<\/span> of exceptional quality and wide variety of dishes, bathers had the opportunity to <\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>enjoy the spiritual food offered b<\/span>y <\/span>overnight <\/span>conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1](\"http:\/\/kritsinelias.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1-\u0391\u03b9\u03b4\u03b7\u03c8\u03bf\u03c5-3.jpg\")
However, it took no longer than a short amount of time, when<\/span> the role of hydrotherapy <\/span>was <\/span>misrepresented , <\/span>moreover, as it happens in most aspects of the Roman’s way of life.<\/span>The premises of the baths turn into orgies and debauchery areas, leading the prevalence of Christianity in a fierce persecution against all <\/span>bathhouses<\/span>. <\/span>Thus,<\/span> the spas like Edipsos <\/span>were <\/span>considered cursed and <\/span>were <\/span>deserted <\/span>for a long period of time<\/span>. With the pass<\/span>age<\/span> of time and mitigating the <\/span>fervid passions<\/span>, the Christianity <\/span>itself<\/span> recognizes the value of hydrotherapy.\u00a0<\/span>Many monasteries were founded near<\/span> spas and <\/span>the idea,<\/span> that water washes away the sins, <\/span>prevails<\/span>. The Middle Ages and the Ottoman <\/span>era<\/span> do <\/span>not give us <\/span>any<\/span> evidence of <\/span>their\u00a0<\/span>development or decline, while historical references start from 1835, <\/span>the year that the <\/span>liberation from the Turks <\/span>took place<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1](\"http:\/\/kritsinelias.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1-\u0391\u03b9\u03b4\u03b7\u03c8\u03bf\u03c5-6.jpg\")
With the beginning of the 20th century hotels started being built one after another “<\/span>HERAKLEION<\/span>“, “<\/span>STADION<\/span>“, “<\/span>AI PIGAI<\/span>“, “AIGLI”, “AURA” “<\/span>AKTI<\/span>” and “<\/span>ISTIAIA<\/span>” are some of them. Simultaneously, private spas are created to meet the needs of <\/span>bathers<\/span> as well as <\/span>luxury restaurants and taverns, clubs with live music and famous orchestral bands. The spa town of that time is the most important domestic and international tourism center. Famous shipowners, industrialists, politicians, artists and intellectuals, spend moments of <\/span>rest and <\/span>relaxation and <\/span>the <\/span>spa is known beyond the borders <\/span>of <\/span>Greece. Its reputation is characteristic <\/span>during <\/span>the Belle Epoque. Eleftherios Venizelos, Kostis Palamas <\/span>and <\/span>the great Marika Kotopouli were some of <\/span>the<\/span> eminent guests.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1](\"http:\/\/kritsinelias.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/\u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1-\u0391\u03b9\u03b4\u03b7\u03c8\u03bf\u03c5-5.jpg\")
Before 1959, the access to the resort was quite difficult. Starting the journey from Athens, reaching Chalkida mainly by train, and thereafter by boat to the Baths. Due to lack of proper wharf, the ship anchored in the open sea and the passengers, with their baggage, arrived by small boats on the beach. Since the end of the 50’s, when the connection by ferry at Arkitsa location of Fthiotida prefecture was made, access became very easy. This enables thousands of visitors to come and enjoy the beautiful natural environment of a city with rich history and cosmopolitan past, but with a promising future as well.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"