Greek Divine
Ancient Greece - the cradle of Western wellness?
In mythological antiquity, the sick sought healing from the gods and visited places such as the temple of Asclepius, where recovery was hoped for during a trance-induced sleep. And even Hippocrates, the forefather of European medicine, taught the healing effects of hydrotherapy, diets, exercise and massages.
I want to trace the Greek origins of our spa culture. And where better to do this than at the supernaturally beautiful Amanzoe Resort on the east coast of the Peloponnese? Purist Aman design "Greek style" awaits me in this luxury hideaway, which is nestled in olive groves and cypress trees like a modern acropolis perched on a hill. As soon as I arrive, I am rewarded with a breathtaking 360° view over the Aegean Sea - the two enchanting islands of Spetses and Hydra seem close enough to touch.
"Amanzoe" means peaceful life, and this feeling fills me as soon as I enter the open-plan lobby - a dream made of stone and marble with high colonnades and rippling pools of water, whose straightforward architecture quickly calms the eye and mind. A beguiling scent of lavender, rosemary and thyme hangs over the entire resort and accompanies me on my way to my pool pavilion, where I feel like a Greek goddess in her heavenly realm for the next few days.
In the restaurant of the exclusive beach club, which is located in an idyllic bay with turquoise-blue water, I enjoy a light lunch with perhaps the most aromatic olives in the world and fresh fish after a few lengths in the 25-metre-long pool. Hippocrates would certainly be delighted with this delicious "diet"! And when it comes to exercise therapy, he would have gone into raptures over the top equipment in the gym, the state-of-the-art Pilates studio and the light-flooded yoga pavilion. With its magnificent view, it provides the ideal setting for the morning yoga sessions with Manos. I experience mystical moments on a starry night during full moon yoga in the resort's amphitheater.
The Amanzoe Spa is a true temple of pampering for body, mind and soul, covering an impressive 2850 square meters. "Body & Soul" goddesses such as Aphrodite and Thalassa would be green with envy here, as the treatments combine ancient Greek beauty rituals and Hippocratic knowledge with the best Asian techniques. For example, aquatic bodywork in the warm Watsu pool, massages with the purest Greek olive and laurel oil or beauty treatments with products from the exquisite, handmade Aman Spa line, which contain essential oils from organically grown plants and herbs.
My journey to the roots of our wellness traditions takes me further, past ancient sites such as Epidaurus and the Corinth Canal. Historic flair and opulent elegance await me at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in the heart of Athens, which opened in 1874. Its rooftop terrace with fine-dining restaurant is legendary and, with its spectacular "Acropolis by Night" scenery, is probably the most romantic box seat in Athens. I enjoy a refreshing dip in the glistening rooftop outdoor pool and then treat myself to a break from bathing in Athens' summer sun at the award-winning spa. The thermal suite with herbal steam bath, sauna, laconium, ice fountain, amethyst grotto and indoor pool is my ideal retreat in a luxurious, classicist ambience. The treatments from East and West with products from the premium cosmetics lines Espa, Valmont and the hotel's own product line GB Spa offer a revitalizing wellness programme. I enjoy a signature treatment "to die for" with the best that Greece has to offer: After an exfoliation of olive oil, sugar and lemon, I reach the Olympus of relaxation with a head massage, while my skin is nourished and caressed with a honey-yoghurt body wrap. I wonder if these ingredients were also Aphrodite's beauty secret?
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