Spa is a town situated on the site of a natural spring or well. In Europe, spas became popular during the Roman period. People believed that the sulfur, saltpeter, or brine that the spa waters contained could cure a number of afflictions. The Romans built baths at Bath and St. Albans in England.
In the 1600’s and 1700’s, it became extremely fashionable to “take the waters” of the spas to alleviate gout, dropsy, and indigestion. People visited spa towns not only for their waters, but also for the entertainment they provided. Today many of the spas retain their attraction as resorts. European spas such as St. Moritz, Switzerland, and Bormio, Italy, are situated in forested alpine settings. Many of Japan’s hot springs are recreational resorts, such as the spas of Hakone and Beppu.
