Spa Spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are especially widespread in Europe and Japan. Day spas are also quite popular, and offer various personal care treatments. The term is derived from the name of the town of Spa, Belgium, whose name is known back from Roman times,
Albulae Aquae Albulae Aquae Albulae Aquae ("The White Water") is a group of springs located West of Tivoli in Italy. The springs' water is bluish, strongly impregnated with sulphur and carbonate of lime, and rises at a temperature of about . The remains of a Roman thermal establishment exist near the principal spring, the so-called Lago della Regina, which is continually diminishing in size owing to deposits left by the water. Dedicatory inscriptions in honour of the waters have been found at the site. It is mentioned briefly by many ancient authors, among them, Virgil, Vitruvius, Isidore of Seville, and Pliny the