The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, a new ultra-luxury five star hotel in Croatia, has opened a 3,800sq m spa, Albaro Wellness & Spa.

Drawing from thousands of years of local seafaring history, and soaked in more than a little grappa, the spa menu at Albaro Wellness & Spa uses forgotten secrets of Istrian wellness.

“When I researched local folk medicine, rakija — grappa with herbs — came up every time,” said Gregory Ugrin of Illyria Wellness, the consultants who crafted the spa concept. “We uncovered intriguing ingredients prized here since antiquity, including Artemesia absinthium, cannabis, laurel, cypress, and the world’s best olive oil. Putting rakija on the feet, or massaging sore muscles with red oil of Saint John’s Wort, are time-tested remedies of Rovinj that we are upgrading with world-class therapeutic massage.”

Signature Spa Treatments begin with a shot of local rakija and include the Pelinkovac Rakija Ritual, an aromatherapy massage and sugar scrub inspired by the notorious Absinthe of Istria, which contains allegedly psychoactive Artemesia absinthium; Olive Press Ceremony, a relaxing massage with local Extra Virgin Olive Oil followed by a skin-smoothing olive crush body scrub from local groves; and Batana Bodywork, a cannabis-infused massage inspired by the wooden boat of Rovinj featuring hemp balm and deep tissue work with a real batana oar.

The Thermal Zone features botanicals of the adjacent forest park with five saunas, two cool plunge pools, tea lounge, ice fall, wellness garden, and experience showers.

In addition to signature spa treatments by Illyria Wellness based on local traditional remedies, Ugrin selected seaweed rituals with Voya Organic Beauty, and results-oriented luxury facial skincare with thermal mineral concentrates by Omorovicza.

Fitness and Wellness offerings include Mermaid University, where kids, teens and adults learn to use a monofin and swim like Rovinj’s dolphins, in the first mermaid swimming program in the Adriatic; Muse Brain Sensing EEG Brain Optimization with a clinical EEG and biofeedback, so guests can learn to “calm the storm” and change your brain wave patterns to enter deep tranquility; and Kinesis Functional Training that echoes the movements of sailing and pulling on fishing nets.

“With our stunning position on the ACI Marina, looking over romantic old town Rovinj, Albaro Wellness & Spa is now a bucket list destination for year round wellness,” said Peter Lösch, managing director of Maistra Collection. “Grand Park Hotel Rovinj is rooted in local stories, so that as our guest explores the restaurants, bars, and spa, they pull back the veil covering all of Rovinj’s secrets.”