Thermal bath near Florence

Old Feb 7th, 2009, 08:29 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thermal bath near Florence

Is anyone familiar with the thermal baths near Florence, Italy? I found a website about thermal baths in Italy, but it does not have addresses:are the thermal baths part of some hotels? or are they "public spas" that anyone can visit without staying overnight? I find information to be very limited.
Johnmango is offline  
Old Feb 7th, 2009, 08:50 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Are you looking at Saturnia near Grosetto? I know that non-guests can visit some of the baths there.
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Feb 7th, 2009, 09:51 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In searching for places very close to Florence for a day-trip, I came across Monsummano Terme which appears to be a spa town people used to go to "take the waters" and that apparently is still popular for this purpose. My impression is that there are spas you can go there for day use and it looks very convenient to Florence.
curious123 is offline  
Old Feb 7th, 2009, 10:00 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Montecatini is also close to Florence; there is a train between the two places:


http://www.montecatini.it/english/terme.html
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Feb 7th, 2009, 10:02 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
But can you just walk in for treatments at Montecatini? When I was there (years ago), you could stroll the grounds and drink the water, but without a doctor's prescription you couldn't actually go for treatments. I found that to be true for many Italian spas.

But in 2006 I visited a number of spas in Umbria that were open to anyone - and OH so enjoyable!
StCirq is offline  
Old Feb 7th, 2009, 10:09 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't have any particular town/place in mind, just close enough to Florence to take a day trip.

It appears that many of these spas/thermal baths do not have their own websites. I suspect they are mostly visited by locals or people using tour service.

So I'm looking for information on which town, which spa, address (so when I arrive by train I can just take a cab there), what treatment if they offer etc. etc.

(Hi ekscrunchy - nice to hear from you again!)
Johnmango is offline  
Old Feb 8th, 2009, 12:52 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi John! I am glad to see that you are heading back to Italy!

I am interested in this discussion because my sister is planning a trip to Italy that will include a visit to Saturnia and the Pitigliano area. St. Cirq brought up an excellent point; we will have to investigate the issue of the medical prescription. It never occurred to me that one would need that..surely not for the baths alone?

I have never used the spas at Montecatini, or anywhere else in Tuscany. But I did pass through on the train to Lucca and I remember it as quite close to Florence. If I can find more detail I will post it..
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Feb 8th, 2009, 01:07 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
John:

See if you can get anywhere with this site; perhaps even write to the tourist office:



http://www.montecatini.turismo.toscana.it/acque_eng.php
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Feb 8th, 2009, 03:00 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, it was for the baths alone, in Montecatini. I remember, because I took the bus there from Firenze and was oh so disappointed that I couldn't get behind the walls where the baths and treatment halls were located. Maybe that has changed.

I was all over Tuscany and Umbria in 2006, though, and never encountered a spa where you couldn't use the baths, and in many you could arrange treatments, at least some treatments, right on the spot.
StCirq is offline  
Old Feb 8th, 2009, 03:38 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Spas in Europe increasingly cater to "discretionary" visits rather than those that are prescribed by a physician (and paid for by insurance or the goverment). Searching for "centro benessere" rather than "terme" should give you more productive hits. The term "beauty farm" is also widely used, and day visits are encouraged.

Saturnia does offer day admission to their pool complex, for instance:

http://www.termedisaturnia.it/en/main/spa-and-wellness/

This hotel is located in Monsummano:

http://www.grottagiustispa.com/eng/l...el_tuscany.htm

Here's the day spa packages (including just the pool if you'd like):

http://www.grottagiustispa.com/eng/day_spa_tuscany.htm

Therese is offline  
Old Feb 8th, 2009, 04:44 PM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the websites and info, everyone.

"As usual", I am still confused by the websites - I gather from Therese, and more research, the following (I may still be wrong):

- there are 2 types of visits: one is the "Thermal Treatment - Cure Termale", and the second one, which anyone can visit, is the "Well Being - Benessere"

- some of the "Hotels with Health Spas" like the Grottagiusti Spa Hotel, offers spas service inside the hotel. The Grottagusti looks like a very nice hotel but it is outside my budget. I only want to go there for the weekend (leaving Florence Friday afternoon, returning to Florence on Sunday)

- The Thermal Treatments: you can get subsidized by the govenment (SNN National Health Dept), like Therese says. If you don't have SNN paper, you still need to be "admitted" at the Central Ticket office (Biglietteria Centrale) at the Thermal Park (Parco Termale) where you will see a doctor first (to see you are suitable for taking the baths??). This is the most confusing point. I am not sure whether one needs to buy a ticket to the various thermal baths here, depending on what treatment.

Anyways I will be going there next month, and if I do get to go there I will report back. In the meantime, if anyone has tried the thermal baths without a doctor's prescription, please let us know:

- how do you access these baths - do you just go in? do you buy a ticket (like what I probably read)
- how do you book the time and treatment? none of these baths have website or phone number. I found the different programs and cost/rate, but no information on how to book an appointment.

Thanks

Johnmango is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2009, 07:02 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In order to answer your questions we're going to need some clarification of certain points.

First, I initially got the impression that you weren't interested in spending the night at the spa town, but now it sounds as if you are.

And I (sort of) get the impression that you've settled on Montecatini as your destination. Is this the case? Montecatini has a particularly long history as a place for health cures (rather than centro benessere, which is a newer idea).

Check out this site if you haven't already: http://www.termemontecatiniweb.it/html/index_it.php

It's in Italian, but roaming around will give you an idea of what's offered. At the top right of the home page is "Comunicazione". Click it, and at the bottom of the list of options is "Form". Just fill this out, using English in the "Messagio" section and "maschio" in the "Sesso" section and explain what you'd like. Somebody will eventually get back to you.

Finally, I'd gotten the impression that you were interested in baths (terme), not treatments. Treatments (like massages, etc.) are going to be considerably more expensive than just the terme.

The point of the medical consultation is to both make sure you're healthy enough to engage in whatever activity you've selected (which could be an issue for an overweight hypertensive diabetic with bad arthritis, but probably not for you) as well as to counsel you as to which therapies/activities are suited to your particular issues. It's also a bit of a racket, as the physicians typically do these visits in addition to their regular practices, and it's not uncommon that the visit by paid in cash (and not in a way that's easily tracked for tax purposes).

Ask whether it's obligatory (it's not always, particularly for short visits), and whether a note from your own physician stating that you're in good health, suffer from no chronic illnesses, and have no limitations on your physical activity will suffice. The more official this letter looks, the better.
Therese is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2009, 07:57 PM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, in the beginning I did mention a "day trip", but now I realize places like Montecatini Terme has more to offer than just the baths. Si I do not mind leaving Florence in the late afternoon, stay Friday and Sat night in a thermal town and return to Florence on Sunday. Basically I have a weekend free, so I can make a day trip, stay one night or stay two nights.

Montecatini was suggested by ekscrunchy and when I looked into the website, it says that it is one of the best spa town in Italy. But I am not fixed on Montecatini, anyplace close to Florence, where I can try out the thermal baths, have a couple of nice meals (Tuscanny food), a bit of sightseeing and shopping will suit me fine (and if there's golfing, even better).

To answer another question: I am not too interested in having facial, manicure, pedicure, or massage. I am more interested in trying out the thermal baths. But I am overwhelmed by the number of medicinal baths/varieties listed. I do not have any particular ailment or maladies - I just want a de-stressing bath.

I did look at some of the websites given in the thread - and I can read Italian reasonably well. I am just confused about:

1) how does one visit, for example, one of the 9 thermal baths in Montecatini (any any thermal baths in other areas). The websites have only one list of bath services and prices. Does it mean that all the the baths have the same price for these services?

2) As mentioned in my previous thread: I read that the admission is at the "Central Ticket office (Biglietteria Centrale) at the Thermal Park (Parco Termale) where you will see a doctor first (to see you are suitable for taking the baths??). I am not sure whether one needs to buy a ticket there, then take the ticket to the baths and knock on the door?? or at the office I can specify which bath I want to go, then call them to make an appointment??



Johnmango is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2009, 06:46 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I haven't come across the reference to the Bigletteria Centrale that you describe, so can't speak directly to that, and I've not personally been to Montecatini.

If you're planning on staying the weekend in any case, you should be able to get answers to these very specific queries from your hotel, or as I suggested upthread by contacting the terme via the "Form" on the web page.
Therese is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2009, 06:59 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
John:

Take a look, for example, at the site for this hotel, with golf packages. It is currently #1 on TripAdvisor.


http://www.hoteltorretta.it/en_pacc_golf.html



I suggest writing to them and asking about the baths; they do have bathing pools at the hotel and could surely help you with additional questions. I noted in reading reports of some of the hotels in the town, that many people used this as a base for visiting Florence, Lucca, and around..my parents stayed in Montecatini on an Elderhostel trip and adored the place.

If you happen to catch the excellelnt HBO special about the owner of Le Cirque restaurant in NYC, a native of Montecatini, you will see some lovely shots of the town.

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/lecirque/index.html




ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2009, 07:32 AM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The information about the "central ticket office" is in the website ekscrunchy listed. It says:
"la pratica di accettazione e la visita medica si svolgeranno presso la Biglietteria Centrale, ubicata nel Parco Termale, salvo nel periodo invernale in cui si terrà presso le sedi Termali dove si effettueranno le cure termali."

http://www.termemontecatiniweb.it/ht...x=accettazione

It is in the website - informazioni - accettazione

ekscrunchy, I did look at Torretta Hotel, as well as the top 3-4 hotels in Tripadvisor - and found their website: it looks like they are fully booked. Maybe their on-line booking is not functioning, but all the hotels I searched, all says no room available (until April). I guess I left it too late to book. That's why I am not even sure for the baths if I have to book the treatment now??

Also I found that many baths/treatment are available only from April/May to October. So maybe March is not a good time to visit? but then why are the hotels all full??




Johnmango is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2009, 07:41 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh,I can't believe they are all booked up. Try writing to one or two of them in a direct e-mail..please let us know the outcome. Is it possible that some are closed in the winter?
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2009, 02:05 PM
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well - I sent email directly to Rorretta, Astoria and Mediterraneo Hotel in Montecatini - all said that they are closed for the season and will open in April.

I wish they would say in their website that they are closed from x month to y month, instead of saying NA (not available).

So maybe March is not a good time to go afterall. Even if I find a hotel I am not sure how many of the thermal baths will be open.
Johnmango is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2010, 09:07 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Am also confused by website information. Would like to visit a thermal pool purely for relaxation in picturesque surrounds- not looking for beauty or medical treatments. Will be in Florence for a week in May and looking for an interesting day trip by train.

Anyone have first hand experience as I've described?
lavender is offline  
Old May 3rd, 2011, 12:55 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maybe you will find some info here: http://www.thermalbathguide.com/
Snobba is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -