Tradition, Beauty and the pleasure of Wellbeing in Montecatini Terme

As you stroll through the portico that leads into the Tettuccio, you can’t help but indulge your imagination as it conjures up a postcard image of the Belle Époque, those dreamy years between the end of the nineteenth century and the start of the twentieth when thermal tourism was flourishing in Europe, reaching a level of popularity never seen before or since.

That indulgent period saw the Art Nouveau style add its flair to the architectural splendour and beauty of Montecatini Terme with contributions which remain to this day – along with its spa facilities – one of the town’s most precious treasures.

The historic Terme Tettuccio, a spa complex created between 1779 and 1781 – is perhaps the most monumental and iconic building in Montecatini Terme.

Of course, the town also boasts other spas – the Terme Excelsior, the Leopoldine, the Terme Nuove Redi, established in the 1920s and completely modernised and equipped with thermal pools in 2009 – along with other magnificent buildings… but the spas and that unmistakable atmosphere of leisure and elegance that has always gone along with them permeate the entire fabric of the town.

It was soon dubbed ‘La città delle acque’ due to its healing waters, fed by four springs that originate from an aquifer 60-80 metres below the ground, which gradually absorb essential minerals as they make their journey towards the surface, lending them their characteristic savouriness and proven natural therapeutic qualities.

Montecatini Terme has long been a go-to spa destination of international renown, having been graced over the years by such famous faces as Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Alberto Sordi, Franco Zeffirelli and Mina, as well as stars from further afield, including Clark Gable, Audrey Hepburn, Orson Welles, Paul Cézanne, Richard Wagner, Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Grace Kelly and more… There is an endless list of names of superstars and divas, writers and musicians, kings, queens and maharajas, dandies, politicians and directors, people of great genius and influence who have, at one time or another, visited as guests to soak up the dolce vita of Montecatini Terme. Their patronage has now been engraved into the eternal memory of the town in a walk of fame featuring 200 bronze medallions which bear their names, making for a truly star-studded stroll between Piazza del Popolo and the Tettuccio.

Why? Because going to “take the waters” in Montecatini Terme means much more than just taking care of your health thanks to the prized thermal water it has to offer. It means immersing yourself in a dimension where culture and leisure, social life and relaxation, elegance and a lifestyle of luxury come together to form a place of boundless pleasure.

A spa getaway in a setting that offers all the aesthetic and ornamental pleasure of the stile floreale – Art Nouveau tinged with floral dynamism – means keeping the spirit of yesteryear alive: a time when beauty and wellness went hand in hand, increasingly becoming inextricably linked.

Easily accessible, thanks to its location in the heart of Italy, Montecatini Terme enjoys a mild climate and minimal atmospheric pollution, and best of all, it has the rest of Tuscany just a stone’s throw away.

Located within the Valdinievole – the gentle valley of clouds – Montecatini Terme has exceptional natural, architectural, thermal and climatic qualities, making it sure to strike any visitor as an ideal place to stay which blends art, culture, natural landscapes, craftsmanship, culinary delights and some of the world’s finest wines with wellness facilities, beaches and mountains: in short, a splendidly varied selection of pleasures and opportunities for all.