Nestled on the enchanting island of Rhodes, Greece, the journey to the Rotonda at Kalithea Springs promises an experience as memorable as the destination itself. You will be treated to breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea, with the island's lush landscapes unfolding along the way. This idyllic setting, where the whispers of the past meet the joys of the present, awaits to welcome you to witness the joy of our special day.

Dear Guests,

As you arrive at Kalithea Springs in Rhodes, Greece, the magic begins with a stroll along a beautifully landscaped path. This pebbled walkway, fringed with lush Mediterranean flora, leads you towards the Rotonda, Where our ceremony will take place. With each step, the path reveals stunning views of the surrounding land and seascape, creating a serene and romantic atmosphere. The gentle murmur of the Aegean Sea accompanies you, enhancing the sense of tranquility and anticipation. As you ascend, the exquisite details of the Rotonda's design become increasingly apparent, blending harmoniously with the natural beauty of the island. This captivating walk, set in a landscape where history and nature intertwine, is the perfect overture to the unforgettable moments that will unfold at the top, and we cannot wait to see you there!

As you approach the top , the gentle sounds of the violin will confirm you are indeed at the right place.

Fortunately, there was an early detection of the curative properties of these water springs, in a country where water has traditionally been valued highly enough to be placed under the auspices of a dedicated god – Neptune. Back in the 5th century BC, Herodotus and Hippocrates as well as other prominent medical doctors of the Hellenistic Era like Herophilus (330 BC) and Erasistratus (320 BC) delved into hydrotherapy which encompassed two distinct subtypes of cure, namely thermalism and positherapy.

The reddish water surging from a particular, rocky formation somewhere in the middle of the left bank of Kallithea bay had already attracted people’s attention in times past. Especially in August and September, numerous "patients" arrived with their families and stayed either in temporary accommodation or in the “kouspes”, the natural cavities of the surrounding rocks. Christian Orthodox, Muslims and Jews would serenely gather in the peaceful surroundings.

And yet, war arrived here too, in the form of the Italian military forces on the 5th of May 1912. Several years later, the Italian Governor of the Dodecanese, Mario Lago, grasped the importance of the cultural and political aspects of the site, so much as to integrate it in the overall development plan of the island of Rhodes.

In 1928, Pietro Lombardi, an established architect of wide acclaim in Rhodes, was assigned the project of designing the buildings that were to constitute the complex. Another Architect, Armando Bernabiti, was entrusted with decorative works, a task carried out in full respect for the natural environment, creating demure lines and the softest circular motifs, set in three different levels. The attribute chosen for the Springs was “Royal”, to denote their sublimity, hence the fact that the Italian King himself, Vittorio Emanuele, honored the ceremony of inauguration of the site with his presence, which was celebrated on the 1st of July 1929.

One year later, Aeneas Brunetti, an MD, was assigned to the Kallithea Springs complex, along with Alberto Mocchi, chief medical officer of the Italian Hospital in Cairo and a medical advisor to the Springs. Alberto Mocchi hosted an international hydrological colloquium which attracted more than 200 scientific specialists and MDs of various specialties, with the purpose of reconfirming the multiple benefits to be expected from the exploitation of the Springs as a whole. This event triggered a glorious period for the Springs of Kallithea, as visitors discovered that multiple catharsis – both physical and mental – was possible in the serenity of these wondrous settings.

At the end of World War II, however, Italy was powerless and the site of the Springs at Kallithea was in decay. The Germans had in the meantime turned the complex into a penitentiary. Barbed wire and minefields had transformed the once impressive spa into a place of dismay… A mirror of the political conjuncture of the time. A lamentation of civilization corroded by war.

In 1948, the Dodecanese became part of the Hellenic national territory, albeit without any significant improvement to the mournful state of decay of the Springs. It was only thanks to funds made available under the US “Marshall” Aid Plan for the financial recovery of the island that the Springs made a humble attempt to reopen, only to shut down for good, in 1967.

One can understand why such a unique natural setting would attract the interest of more than one film directors. Already at the time of Italian rule, “Kalitea” would frequently be featured in newsreels produced by Italian cameramen operating in Rhodes. The integration of the Dodecanese to the Hellenic national territory placed Rhodes in the spotlight of tourist interest, setting the island on an unprecedented course of development and prosperity, with a little help from the world of cinema. In 1948, Michail Gaziades, one of the pioneers of filmmaking in Greece, arrived in Rhodes for the shooting of the film “Anna Roditi” [Anna of Rhodes], expressly meant by its producers as a “Tribute to the Martyrdom of the People of the Dodecanese”.

During the golden era of the Greek filmmaking, in the ‘60s, more than one domestic production chose the site of the Springs as a natural setting. Classical takes like those featured in the production “To Doloma” [The Decoy] starring Aliki Vougiouklaki and Alekos Alexandrakis (1964 – Director: Alekos Sakellarios) have left an indelible mark on Greek collective memory. The ‘60s also brought international filmmakers to Rhodes. Amongst the more high-profile stars of the time, Yul Brynner came to the island to star in Surprise Package, a 1960 comedy directed by Stanley Donen. In 1979, Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven and Claudia Cardinale landed in Rhodes for the shooting of Escape to Athena, directed by George Cosmatos, a Greek-American cineaste who chose the site of the Springs of Kallithea for several and extensive scenes in his film. The Springs had previously also been the setting for yet another war film, an adventure under the title of “The Guns of Navarone” (1961) starring Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn. The film earned an Academy Award for best film effects and a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Film and Best Scenario. Forever charmed by Rhodes, Anthony Quinn was to become a regular, despite the controversy that such affections of his were later to trigger feuds for the beachfront that still bears his name, to this day.