First, a brief introduction: the Thalasso SPA at the Approdo Resort in San Marco di Castellabate in the province of Salerno, which the Deluxu.it editorial team visited, is not just any spa. As the name suggests, the waters come from the sea of the Cilento National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Campania, a region rich in history and traditions. The sea water is purified, channelled and made available for people to enjoy moments of silence and relaxation in a spa covering 2,500 square metres spread over three floors. It is one of the largest in southern Italy.
For those who appreciate nature and the wonders it offers us, it is worth remembering that thalassotherapy is an ancient method of treatment already practised by the Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, which uses the combined action of the entire marine environment: water, mild climate, seaweed, sand and mud. The sea contains a variety of mineral salts and trace elements that are important for the body and has a cleansing and antibacterial action. In addition to pleasant dips in the resort's large saltwater pools, all equipped with sound systems so you can listen to sweet melodies even underwater, and hydromassage areas, we recommend lying down for as long as you like on the salt beach.
That's right: an indoor beach of warm, pure white salt to relieve muscle and neck pain and let your mind wander, "nourishing the spirit" too.
But the real luxury doesn't end there. Kindness, professionalism and the ability to "live according to nature", following a slower pace. "Slowing down doesn't mean stopping, but regenerating the mind and body at a more peaceful pace. Here, nature is our oldest teacher, teaching us the art of balance. Its cycles, its silences, its changes become the rhythm on which we model every experience", comments Lara Rizzo, owner of the hotel together with her sister Nicole, third generation of the Rizzo family, which aims to expand following the same business model. "We would like to replicate the structure and spa in another beautiful Italian location. We have looked at Tuscany, but in reality we would especially like Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, but we must be ready with a rigid and efficient format like this one that can be exported".
Located on the marina, adjacent to the Roman walls still visible in the sea, the village is surrounded by a vast and expansive seascape. "Our clientele is mainly local, but we also have foreign guests, especially Germans and a few Americans. We have a large and qualified staff: 90 professionals in high season and an estimated turnover of between £5 and £6 million by the end of 2025", explains Director Gianfranco Ambrosano. "The rooms and suites with open views of Castellabate Bay boast clean lines, natural materials and bright spaces. For dining, Donna Elvira has been preserving family memories with authentic recipes since 1952, while Donna Elvira by the Sea offers elegant cuisine with sea views".
Here is a medley of traditional Cilento flavours that we invite you to try for dinner: Anchovies meatball, liquide escarole and sauce of buffalo mozzarella cheese; half Rigatoni pasta with white courgettes, raw prawn, prawn extract, goat cheese and courgettes flowers; Browened meagre cilentana's ciambotta and herbs gel. For desser Basil buffalo panna cotta and olive oil crumble.
Once you have sampled the traditional flavours, all that remains is to immerse yourself in this southern Italian reality as a tourist. A few kilometres from the hamlet of San Marco, with the hotel shuttle always available to guests, you can visit Castellabate hilltop and its Castello dell'Abate, from which the municipality takes its name. The building is a fortress (founded in 1123 by Abbot Costabile Gentilcore), which served as a defence against Saracen raids. Today, inside the structure, you can admire halls, towers, underground passages and a breathtaking view overlooking the sea. The external structure features imposing perimeter walls with four corner towers, once part of the walls that enclosed the village with its houses, ovens and many warehouses.
Don't forget that, just a few kilometres away, you can reach the famous city of Paestum and immerse yourself in the ancient history of Magna Graecia, contemplating the marvellous temples and the pine forest by the sea.
For information info@lapprodo.it. Telephone +39 974 966001.
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