Edipsos is located northwest of Evia and is the largest spa town in Greece. The combination of excellent thermal waters and landscapes of unparalleled natural beauty have established it from antiquity to the present day as a pole of attraction for a large number of tourists but also prominent personalities.
The area of Edipsos has a special place in mythology, since the goddess Athena asked the god of fire, Hephaestus, to bring to the surface of the earth warm waters, waters to rest, water to heal so that her protected, the mythical hero Hercules could come and rest after each feat. God Hephaestus did not spoil the love of his beloved sister. He struck the earth’s throat with his divine hammer and immediately spilled the warm healing waters. The philosopher Aristotle (384 – 322 BC), in his meteorological reports, referring to the springs of Loutra, reports that the sea forms underground rivers and for this reason the hot springs of Edipsos were created. Historian Plutarch (50-125 AD) describes the social life that had developed in the area, the pleasant city stay and entertainment, and the brilliant diet with its abundant fish and birds. The historian also reports that Edipsos for more than four centuries, from Antigonus to the Roman emperors Geta and Gordianos, has been greatly acclaimed.
The last period of heyday is placed in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. in the years of the emperors Theodosius and Justinian. Due to the reputation of the area, there were many who flocked for balneotherapy. The region’s heyday took place mainly during the imperial times, especially in the 2nd century AD. Historian Plutarch says that Edipsos was a place where people from all over Greece met to make baths, rest, chat and have fun. The use of the baths, according to Plutarch, was made by Roman General Sulla to address his health problems. Edipsos also visited the Emperors Andrianos, Markos, Aurelius Septimios, Severus, Pertinus with the empress Julia Dova. The city found pediments of the Byzantine Great Byzantine emperor and emperor Theodosius.
At the beginning of the 19th century, buildings of high architectural style are being built in Edipsos, which still adorn the city today, travelling us to a different era. Named shipowners, industrialists, politicians and artists visit them such as Eleftherios Venizelos, Marika Kotopouli, Kostis Palamas, Churchill, Onassis, Greta Garbo, Maria Callas are some of them.
Nowadays, the visitor can enjoy the beneficial properties of the excellent thermal waters either in modern hydrotherapy areas of the area which offer specialized and excellent services either by taking a swim at beaches where springs spring up, such as the municipal beach, the beach below the kindergarten and beach near the Thermae Sylla. All these beaches are free of charge. In Edipsos, the visitor can find several more beaches or visit the beach of Agios Nikolaos in a 5-minute drive. Here the visitor can enjoy swimming in crystal clear waters and enjoy the food and drink at the restaurants and beach bars of the area. Edipsos is at a focal point for those who want to experience Northern Evia and make short excursions discovering wonderful, calm, blue and spotless beaches of the wider region and enjoying the incredible beauty of our landscapes as the sea and the mountains become one in this gifted place.
In the afternoon, one can admire the enchanting sunset that spreads its magnificent colors to the Edipsos coastal road, which turns into a huge pedestrian street with all sorts of shops. The visitor can enjoy his coffee, his sweet and taste the gastronomic delights that our place offers. Edipsos is an ideal destination for families as the summer playgrounds operating in the area are a special experience for our young friends. But the fun does not stop here for the lovers of nightlife as there is a beach bar, bar and club that give life and pace to the city until the early hours. Undoubtedly, visitors adore the city of Edipsos for the relaxation, health, beauty and wellness it offers them.
