Edipsos
or Aedepsos is a spa centre well known to the ancient world since man's
first presence in southern Europe. The etymology of the name most probably
derives from the words "aedoion" and "aptomai", Greek for
"touch the external female genital organs", which must refer to the
miraculous effects the local spas have in cases of a long series of
gynecological diseases. In Roman times, General Syllas had his own spa facilities built
on the spot after having been healed of his foot-aches, the famous Thermae Syllas. A most modern, magnificently
designed hotel-spa centre is built on the thermae Syllas ruins. After all,
you don't have the opportunity everyday to bathe in the water of the very
same spring a Roman Emperor did.
The centre of town is the main
sea-side street which is closed off to all traffic at
dusk. There is a line
of tavernas
and cafes along the shore where people sit and
watch the ferries go back and forth to
the mainland just about every 15
minutes. The most popular places are the ones that sell loukoumades, which are fried dough with honey poured over them, and also
fresh sheep yoghurt with honey. Despite Edipsos being renowned as a heaven
for geriatrics, there are people of all ages, with
children running around or playing in the small amusement park. There are
open-air movie theatres with English language films
on with Greek subtitles and lots of shops that sell a
variety of eastern type sweets and pastries like loukoumia and baklava. Of
course there are all kinds of shops typical to a Greek summer resort, like
souvenir, shell artefacts, embroidery, fishing gear with live bait shops,
along with restaurants and ice-cream parlours.
In
the harbour there are lots of fishing boats with big water tanks on the
front deck and traps, along with nets. Fish are caught with the traps,
transferred to the tanks and then scooped out and sold on the dock, alive
and flapping, to the crowds that gather when a boat comes in. I had never
seen this before in all my travels in Greece which was surprising. You
can't get fish any fresher than this unless you are a seal. Further on is
the town beach and its clear waters which is filled with families, couples
and, of course, the ever-present senior citizens.
Edipsos
has to be one of the most amazing resorts in the world when it comes to
healing mineral baths. There are more than eighty individual springs with
waters ranging from 28 to 86 degrees centigrade, which can be quite hot.
These springs are said to be effective in curing problems such as
rheumatoid and inflammatory arthritis, degenerative arthritis,
spondylo-arthritis, myalgia, neuralgia, lumbago, neuritis, backaches,
tendonitis, vessel diseases, diseases of the endocrine cycle and post
traumatic inflammation. As already mentioned, a number of gynecological complaints can be
remedied such as salpingitis, endometritis infertility, and ovarian
deficiency. They also say it can cure men's potency problems. There are
also many privately owned spa facilities, baths and pools, some of which
belong to the hotels. Nature has also chipped in for a rare combined
experience where the warm water gushes from the sea bed, a rare phenomenon
that is difficult to find anywhere else in the world.
The
Greek national Tourism Organization has built brand new spa facilities for
state-of-the-art hydrotherapy, with 84 individual baths equipped for
hydro massage, an indoor pool for kinesiotherapy and special bathing and
shower installations for treatment of the limbs, slipped disc and cervical
spine syndrome. There is a physiotherapy center offering inhalation and
electrotherapy, massage with hand and electromassage as well as a fully
equipped gymnasium. An outdoor pool on the grounds can be used for bathing
in both mineral and sea water. There are steam rooms, saunas and a staff
of doctors, nurses, and physical therapists at this and other hotels.
There are many athletic and cultural events held in Edipsos including the Edipsos Festival featuring dance performances by Greek and International groups as well as a Traditional Choral Song contest.. There are tennis and beach volleyball championships and plenty of beautiful places to walk and explore. There are plenty of water sports including jet skis, windsurfing and sailing and excellent fishing. This is also an area famous for its hunting and the Greek Hunting Association keeps it stocked with pheasant, partridge and hare. Clearly this is not your typical 'lay out all day on the beach and get drunk all night' kind of destination, there is stuff to do in and around Edipsos. There are many other scenic mountain villages and beautiful beach towns nearby and the entire island of Evia is a treasure of natural beauty, monasteries and archaeology sites like the monastery of Saint George, built over the Temple to Apollo, 2 kilometers from the village of Polylofos. There is also the well known Sacred Church of Saint John the Russian in the town of Prokopi, plus daily cruises to the popular Sporades islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonessos.
