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By Barbara Penny Angelakis
Oiled up and slimmed down at Thaermæ del Forte Village.
Thaermæ del Forte Village
Santa Margherita di Pula
Sardinia
www.fortevillageresort.com
“Thalassotherapy is the science that exploits the beneficial effects of sea water on the body” and the Thaermae del Forte medical team, in collaboration with a Milan University research program, led to the development of specific patented products, namely sea oil and other mineral additives, that under strictly controlled temperatures, has proven beneficial in treating all manner of conditions and diseases (they are more than happy to provide a list).
Forte Village is a large destination resort on the mile-long white sandy beach of Sardinia’s southern coast and just a 45 minute drive from the Cagliari airport (see Undiscovered Sardinia in Destinations). Regardless of where your travels in Sardinia take you, I highly recommend a visit to the Thaermæ del Forte Village for the Thalassotherapy spa experience - it is unlike any other.
The spa has an unimposing small reception entrance leading into an open air courtyard. Entrances spoke out in different directions to dressing rooms, treatment areas, resting places, and the path to the Baths. A series of six pools or baths are laid out in a circular maze in a tropical garden setting so that getting to each bath area can be used as a walking meditation or serendipitous experience… whichever suits you.
 The path leads you first to Bath No. 1, which is infused with the patented sea oil preparation that is unique to this spa. Magnesium salts darken the water to a rusty brown and the oil makes the water look greasy, which on first glance is rather unappealing. But once you gingerly descend the ramp, holding tight to the railing - gingerly because the oil makes the going slippery - the water seems to rise to enfold you in a warm, comforting embrace. Once in, it was hard to leave. The bath was buoyant, so much so that it was difficult to keep my feet on the bottom of the pool, and if I just allowed myself to relax into the water it was absolutely delicious. A few people complained of a stinging sensation in areas that wounds were in the healing process, but I felt none of that. I actually dream of returning to this bath and floating endlessly, however a word of caution, 20 minutes is the maximum one should stay in at one time. This is after all a medicinal treatment, albeit a luxurious self-indulgence. Each bath has a recommended time exposure that is posted on the side near the entrance/exit point and strict adherence is strongly advised. It is also important to note that the baths are completely filtered on a daily basis to remove any materials or debris that accumulates with usage so that they maintain their healing properties in the most hygienic manner.
Bath No. 2 is just next to No. 1 and adds the anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe to the mix. Still brownish but a little less buoyant, and as I wickedly overstayed in No. 1, I spent considerably less time in No. 2. Bath No. 3 was my second favorite which like No. 1 had warm and highly buoyant, but clear water, with a high saline concentration. In fact, large vessels filled with sea salt were placed on the sides of the pool so one could grab a handful to scrub away at the body’s dry areas or treat ones hair to its exfoliating effects. This bath was larger then the first two with a waterfall in the center and a bubbling feet massage pulse off to the side which delighted all who stood on it.
Bath No. 4 was still warm but much less buoyant and again having spent a long time in No. 3, I moved on rather quickly to No. 5. No. 5 was cooler and as the sun was setting after the warmer baths it felt colder than it was. This stage is important for the circulation but was less fun for me then the earlier baths. In the process of cooling down the body it actually chilled me. Donning the warm robe and non-skid slippers provided by the spa, I trotted off to the last Bath completing the circular route by walking thru a sea-rock covered water channel, that gave a good foot massage and brought me back to the path that ended at the final Bath No. 6, which incidentally is next to No. 1 and No. 2. This completes the circle and returns you to the beginning. It was tempting to start all over again but a good two hours was already spent at the Baths and it was getting late in the day.
Unfortunately time did not allow for a body treatment either, but if as much attention to detail and sensation is given to spa treatments as it is to the Thalassotherapy pools, that promises to be some treat of a treatment.
© November 2008 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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