Milos has given us quite a lot to experience, discover and enjoy, soakingswise.
One would expect that after the hits at Alikes, Paleochori, Tria Pigidia and the experiences at for instance Skinopi that there would be little more to add.
That's not so. Milos being one of the more thermally active islands of the Mediterranean, there's always the outstanding list of missed possibilities.
Take a look at the map below which indicates the many hot spots on the island (source). If you discount the odds and ends that have been described in the mention blog posts above, there's still quite more to be researched though one would need to know whether map below is accurate and up to date. What is certain is that the most obvious ones have been accounted for.
Take a look at the map below which indicates the many hot spots on the island (source). If you discount the odds and ends that have been described in the mention blog posts above, there's still quite more to be researched though one would need to know whether map below is accurate and up to date. What is certain is that the most obvious ones have been accounted for.
Fortune
That is with one big exception, the premier hot spring of Milos, that of Adamas port itself.
Named Lakos, this hot spring was already noted by Hippocrates himself (source). This hot spring is supposed to be the most accessible and developed of the island.
That is with one big exception, the premier hot spring of Milos, that of Adamas port itself.
Named Lakos, this hot spring was already noted by Hippocrates himself (source). This hot spring is supposed to be the most accessible and developed of the island.
Arriving by ferry, the hot springs are situated in the cliff face along side the quay, see lead photo above. Built within the cliff / located in a cave are a number of pools.
But much to every potential soakers surprise the facilities were under lock when we visited. I had asked on forehand but my source's answer was as follows:
'Unfortunately the organized hot springs are closed. I called the municipality but they are not sure if they will open them in April'.
No, they weren't open in April. And by the look of things they weren't going to open fullstop. There was no clue whether or not this was something waiting to happen.
On a number of occasions I tried to peek through the windows / door hoping to see some activity, alas none to be observed.
Apparently the bath(s) had undergone a recent renovation. Until quite recent they were very rustic. The older style cave-like settings are easy to be observed from the koinignomi.gr article (Jul. 17, 2014) on the upcoming restoration activities.
More recent was this (translated) news item (Bluebirds Tourism and Travel, 30 Aug. 2015):
'New era for spa tourism Milos 30.08.2015 inaugurated Saturday the hot spring "Lakos" in Milos Adamas - The Cave of Hippocrates. This is an excellent work that creates the conditions for the development of spa tourism in Milos and extend the tourist season on the island'.
Source: Bluebird
Notable is that despite attempts from the private sector to renovate he cave, the decision was to keep these public, i.e. in hands of the municipality. Rather a Pyrrhic victory, if it's not open.
Other info gleamed from the internet. The website Milos.gr:
'However, out of all the hot springs, the only exploitable and recognized as a therapeutic spa-spring of a healing importance, is that of “Lakkos” in Adamantas, which is mentioned in Hippocrates’s works.The hot springs of Lakkos are located in the left side of Adamantas harbor, in a cave of 15m...The hot springs of Lakkos are opened for spa-treatments from the 15th of July till the 15th of October, from 7a.m. till 1p.m'.
'Hippocrates in his "Peri Epidimion" quoted the waters for dermatitis and obesity.Milos today has a little spa in Adamas, in a cave called "Ta loutra tou lakkou ", the baths of the pit. The water has a temperature from 35 to 41° C, and the well is characterized as a basis of sodium chloride. It is recommended for neuro arthritis and osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle pain and neuralgia, rheumatism, leucorree'.
Pit holes
Included (and ending the series on Milos) in this wrapping up we might as well include references to hot springs on the nearby island of Kimolos (20 minutes by small ferry from Milos) which has it's own hot spring. This source describes it as follows:
'The springs of Prasa can be found on a cement pier in a beach in Prasa. You'll find two pit-holes there, one of them with a cement roof and the other one not. The water that flows from their bottom is not much, but it's very hot.Across the two springs you'll find an old, semi-abandoned building; it's the building of the springs. There are four basins in there, one of them made of marble. Kimoliots use those basins from time to time'.
It's apparently a d.i.y. hot spring, you have to fill the tub itself, hot water from the spring, seawater to cool it off.
This source senses more soaking opportunities on the island:
'Agioklima, Therma, Prassa are only some of the spots north of Kimolos, where hot springs gush out with a temperature over 56 degrees Celsius'.
Concerning the first two there's little to find. Though on Prassa it seems more development has occurred, see photo following which comes from the reference above with the caption:
'Hot springs near the sea'
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