Picture gazing out over the unpolluted sparkling royal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea, breathing in salt-infused, pure, sweet air and the fragrance and beauty of dark-green pine forests silhouetted against the azure sky.
All the while, 1,100 aromatic herbs and flowers cover the hillsides and captivate the senses with the tantalizing scents of myrtle, lavender, laurel, lemon, orange, rosemary, eucalyptus, oleander, and many others. That’s what you get on the island of Lošinj, Croatia . . . the Island of Vitality.
Scientific studies have proven that due to the immaculately clean air and warm sea currents with favorable temperatures and humidity, Lošinj is uniquely situated to help in the treatment of chronic lung disease and respiratory disorders.
In fact, Lošinj has been known as a healing paradise, frequented by the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy since 1889 when Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia, proclaimed it a health resort. The Lošinj archipelago includes five islands – Cres, Lošinj, Ilovik, Susak, and Unije, as well as more than 250 kilometers of walking paths with spectacular views of the deep royal blue water of the Adriatic Sea.
The essential oils from scented herbs, many native to the island, are a major tourist attraction. They are made from the tedious labor of dedicated families that have passed the process down for generations.
We visited the island of Cres and the picturesque fishing village of Martinscica (St. Marten) for a stop at the Oil House. Since 1903, the Kučić family has been producing essential oils, mainly used for holistic healing elixirs and aromatherapy. Julino and Rena are continuing the family’s small press production of oils, which they sell in their small, fragrant shop, along with soaps, candles, and jams.
The extensive use of herbs isn’t limited to small entrepreneurial producers making essential oils for local use. A whole new cosmetic product line called “Mirta” has been developed using 100% natural ingredients sourced from the herbs on Lošinj.
We visited the Vitality Hotel Punta in the village of Veli Lošinj to hear about their health and wellness programs that include aromatherapy and active exercise. It’s a full-service wellness resort offering health & fitness, beauty & spa, beach & pools, sports & recreation, and gourmet meals & accommodations with high-end amenities. The hotel is beautifully situated overlooking the sea and has a no-nonsense approach to wellness tempered by pampered luxury.
Our next stop was the Aurora Wellness Hotel & Laurus Slow Spa, where we met with Anamarija Pažin Morović, aromatherapist and founder. Anamarija demonstrated how locally grown essential oils are used to infuse products for the spa and generously gave us the results from the demonstration to take home as mementos. Laurus Slow Spa has been listed by Premier Traveler as one of the top ten spas in the world.
The 5-star Hotel Bellevue and SPA Clinic in the city of Mali Lošinj was our base hotel during our visit. The Bellevue has been completely revamped and is the standard against which all other hotels on Lošinj will have to measure up.
The arresting entrance is flanked by large white columns, accented by indirect ground lighting. With its stunning Italian rose marble columns and floor-to-ceiling wall of spiral Ammonite prehistoric fossilized shells, the atrium lobby sets a new benchmark of luxury, as do the large and beautifully furnished guest rooms with state-of-the-art amenities.
As much as I appreciated the comforts and beauty of the property and their gourmet kitchen, my prime interest was in the spas and the health treatments for which the island is renowned.
I could get lost for many days in the SPA Clinic at Hotel Bellevue. It’s a large and inviting area with many facilities in addition to the usual sauna, steam, and whirlpool. There’s a Turkish Bath with Hammam table and an outdoor spa garden, indoor and outdoor seawater pools, and state-of-the-art exercise equipment.
There are medical programs, nutrition and wellness training sessions available for short or long-term treatment, and beautifying and relaxing spa treatments provided by highly trained estheticians and cosmetologists.
One room in the spa holds three heated water beds where you can adjust the warmth and color to achieve your goal: red for Excite, blue for Relax, green to Tone, white to Purify. Once you adjust the color and heat to your specifications, you lie down and allow the good vibrations to soak in.
There are beautiful areas for relaxing and cooling down, as well as a darkened room with lounge chairs constructed of black marble. These can be adjusted for angle and heat. You can enjoy all of these areas on your own either before or after treatments or wellness classes.
My first treatment was performed by Ivica, a specialist in the state-of- the-art LCM System or Diamond machine. You lie fully clothed in the technologically advanced therapeutic light table, while Ivica manipulates the machine to achieve balance and healing throughout the body using light, color, and movement (LCM).
It’s a no hands-on, painless, and calming treatment that leaves you feeling refreshed and energized. There are more advanced uses for the LCM to handle physiological and physical dis-ease, but I just got a taste of what the machine is capable of doing.
I also enjoyed a SPA Clinic signature back massage with Emma and a spectacular new special booster facial with Sanela using the luxury British product line, Elemis. It’s one of several cosmetic lines used at the SPA depending on the needs of the client.
One of the most memorable days during our visit was a sailboat ride on the “Alhambra” to the islands of Susak and Ilovik. Susak is the only all-sand island in the archipelago and is a geological mystery. The sea here is warm, clean, and inviting, and you can practically walk to the horizon in knee-deep water.
Standing in the placid water with tiny fish swimming around my legs was magical, and I could almost hear the siren sound of old enticing me to come closer . . . all the while, warm breezes planted silent kisses on my exposed skin as a church bell chimed the hour in the distance.
The church was at the top of the island in the old town, accessible through narrow winding lanes of manicured homes, many oozing scents of baking bread and promises of the noon-day meal to come. Overwhelmed by the smells, we stopped at a bakery for meat and veggie pies and passed them around so that all could share in the local delicacies.
You can travel to Lošij to improve your physical health or your mental well-being . . . or both. Either way, the Island of Vitality is a paradise on earth. For more information visit: https://croatia.hr/en-gb.
Barbara Angelakis is one of the founders of LuxuryWeb Magazineand its Senior Travel Writer. She travels the four corners of the world with a thirst for knowledge and a twinkle in her eye, seeking out the history of people and places and sharing her experiences. She specializes in culture and history along with luxury destinations, hotels/resorts/cruises/spas, and most recently Jewish Heritage, exploring the historical connection between Jews and their host countries. She has been recognized for outstanding coverage as “Journalist of the Year” by the Tanzania Tourist Board and is the recipient of the MTA Malta Tourism Press Award, the first American to receive this honor. For the past 25 years, Barbara has written extensively for LuxuryWeb Magazine, and her work can also be found at The Jerusalem Post, Jewish Link, Epoch Times,and Vision Times.
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