Thermal Baths & Spa

The Hotel Continental Ischia complex, with its 5 pools at different temperatures, its thermal centre accredited by the Italian National Health Service, its wellness centre and beauty centre, all surrounded by lush gardens, offers all the features of a true thermal park.

Thermal waters have made Ischia famous throughout the world and are one of the island’s most distinctive attractions. The Greeks and Romans were already familiar with the therapeutic properties of these waters and the treatments derived from them. Thermal springs can be found in almost every area of the island. One particularly important basin of thermo-mineral waters is located precisely where Hotel Continental Terme stands today.

The waters drawn from the “Tifeo” spring, discovered in the area at a depth of 39 metres, have the distinctive characteristic of being both hyperthermal (naturally hot, with temperatures ranging from 55 to 72°C) and saline-alkaline-earth waters, rich in sodium, chlorine, calcium and magnesium.

Balneotherapy is one of the most widely practised thermal treatments. Thanks to their mineral composition, therapeutically active waters can provide beneficial effects. The most common treatment consists of balneotherapy using the warm water of the thermal pools.

The treatment generally lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, with an ideal water temperature of between 30 and 40°C.

Immediately afterwards, a rest period of 30 to 40 minutes is recommended in order to allow the benefits of the treatment to take effect. Balneotherapy can provide valuable support in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, in post-traumatic and post-surgical treatments, and in cases involving symptoms of venous and lymphatic insufficiency. It can also help restore a natural sense of physical wellbeing thanks to the muscle relaxation encouraged by the warmth of the water.

Thermal water may also be used for aerosol therapy, allowing the beneficial mineral components of the water to reach the finer branches of the respiratory system. This treatment may be used for temporary respiratory conditions and to help alleviate chronic conditions, ranging from common colds to chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma.

Another important use of thermal water is in thermal mud therapy, a therapeutic practice involving the application of thermal mud. Clay is left to mature for long periods in thermal water, allowing it to absorb its beneficial properties. The thermal mud is then applied as masks or packs, at the temperature and for the duration prescribed by the thermal centre’s doctor during the initial consultation.