The island of Lesvos is rich in hot mineral and healing baths and the town of Thermi is best known as a spa-resort (Loutropolis). There, the large number of Hellenistic era marbles, Roman inscriptions and Ottoman buildings, indicate that its hot springs have been in use since ancient times. At the beginning of the 20th century, when thermal and healing baths were fashionable all around Europe, Thermi was famous for its luxury hotel, the Sarlitza Pallas, built in 1909, right next to the hot springs.

The hotel was commissioned by Hassan Efendi Mola Mustafa and was designed by French architects. The presence of the Sarlitza Palace Hotel transformed the area into a very modern health resort, with international fame, attracting visitors and famous figures from East and West alike. It was a magnet for royalty and clergy.

However, from 1933 it fell into decay. Nowadays, the Prefecture of the Northern Aegean has drawn up an ambitious plan to restore the hotel and the hot springs to their former glory and thus put the area back on the international map of tourist destinations.

Matt Barrett's: Healing Hot Mineral Baths Lesvos