Absinthe, cannabis & grappa on the menu at Croatia’s new Albaro Wellness & Spa

Albaro Wellness & Spa

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, the new ultra-luxury flagship hotel by Maistra, a leading tourism company in Croatia, has announced the opening of Albaro Wellness & Spa.

The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj is perched on the Adriatic, above the new ACI Marina, and is reportedly the most ambitious luxury hospitality project ever built in Croatia. The six-floor hotel offers 193 luxurious rooms and 16 suites with sea views. Albaro Wellness & Spa spans over 3800 square meters and was conceptualized by spa consultants Illyria Wellness. Drawing from local seafaring history, and “soaked in more than a little grappa,” the spa menu lures seekers with the promise of wonderful, unique massages, infused with forgotten secrets of Istrian wellness. A potent liquor theme pervades the therapy offerings.

Gregory Ugrin, of Illyria Wellness, said in a statement, “When I researched local folk medicine, rakija — grappa with herbs — came up every time. We uncovered intriguing ingredients prized here since antiquity, including Artemisia 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. These treatments include:

Pelinkovac Rakija Ritual: enchanting aromatherapy massage and sugar scrub inspired by the notorious Absinthe of Istria, which contains allegedly psychoactive Artemisia absinthium.


Olive Press Ceremony: profoundly relaxing massage with the world’s best Extra Virgin Olive Oil followed by a skin-smoothing olive crush body scrub from local groves.


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.

Among the fitness and wellness offerings are Mermaid University, the first mermaid swimming program in the Adriatic, where kids, teens and adults learn to use a monofin and swim like Rovinj’s dolphins. And Kinesis Functional Training, which echoes the movements of sailing and pulling on fishing nets. A 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.
 The Spa has three swimming pools and five treatment rooms including a VIP double spa suite with a sauna and wellness consultation room.

In addition to local traditional remedies, Ugrin selected nurturing seaweed rituals with VOYA Organic Beauty, and luxury facial skincare with thermal mineral concentrates by Omorovicza.

“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,” remarked 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.”

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