We have written about the beautiful and therapeutic natural hot springs of Tuscany on many an occasion. For some, their very existence may be news and come as a surprise but for those who really want to explore all that the region has to offer, especially if you are looking to unwind and relax, they are an unmissable feature.
In fact, many towns in the region have, “terme,” in their name, referring to the presence of thermal waters and most of these towns have developed spa and medical tourism throughout the centuries, being sought out by the Romans, European aristocrats, and modern-day travellers alike.
There are lots of options to choose from when it comes to these spa destinations in the region and some could even plan on visiting a few throughout their time on vacation in Tuscany. From the famous cascades of Saturnia featured on so many tourism images of the region, to the elegant historic spa of Montecatini Terme, to the free ancient bath complex of San Casciano dei Bagni, there are endless incredible ways to go but if you’re booking a villa in Tuscany and planning a spa day or a visit to a thermal bath there are some things that we think you should keep in mind...
Here are our times for a perfect day in a natural hot spring on holiday in Tuscany.
1. Don’t Wear Jewellery
The sulphur present in the thermal waters that contributes to the relaxing and therapeutic properties that we all want can also have an unwanted side-effect – it can tarnish metals like silver and turn them black. Similarly, the metal parts of sunglasses or other accessories will be at risk of the same thing. So, if you don’t want your items to be damaged, it’s best to ensure that you keep them out of the water.
2. Don’t Mind The Smell Or The Worms
Once again, that pesky sulphur might cause some problems – this time due to the smell. This will vary from place to place but do be aware that there can be a strong and unpleasant odour from natural hot springs due to the sulphur in the water. The relaxing properties are deemed worth it by most but depending on your sensitivity to smell, it can be off-putting. Be aware that this could potentially be an issue. Furthermore, there might also be little red worms in the water. These are not harmful at all and actually indicate mineral rich nutrients are in the waters but they can surprise people. Again, it’s just better to know about these things in advance and we still think that a trip to a thermal bath is very much worth it during a vacation in Tuscany
3. Do Bring A Robe And Pool Shoes
The last point and this one both apply most to the free, natural springs as baths in spas will often be treated to reduce these issues but the free options in the wild do have the bonus of being free (of course) and of having lovely natural surroundings. As such, you may have to trek a small bit or simply walk across stones or pebbles and also find yourself in a body of water that has a pebbly base. For your own comfort in navigating these spaces, we recommend remembering to bring pool shoes that you can wear the whole time and a robe for going to and from the water, if you have one at hand.
4. Do Choose Wisely
With all of these points in mind, it becomes clear that it is important to choose your thermal spring options carefully. Think about whether you want to deal with the potential additional considerations of going the natural route. Weigh up if convenience is more important than saving money. Also, think about what you want from a day at the thermal springs – if you just want to soak, that’s one thing, but if you want other spa treatments then a spa with baths using waters from natural thermal springs is obviously the better option. If you’re going the commercial and professional route at a spa, you can also choose from various packages and treatments or pay for access to waters that have been treated and have showers and changing rooms and more.
Once you’ve kept all of this in mind, all you need to do is find your ideal fit among our villas in Tuscany, maybe even go for one of our luxury villas in Tuscany, and then look forward to a perfectly relaxing getaway in this magical part of the world!
