No matter what the season, a day (or more) spent at a luxurious thermal spa resort is regenerating.
It’s a perfect way to escape life’s stress and restore the mind and body. The Italian spa experience is an all-encompassing event that focuses on total well-being. The settings of the resorts are magnificent, usually grand historic villas immersed in incredible gardens and built around the source of a natural hot spring. Their glorious past can be traced as far back as the Etruscans and Romans, who were the first to recognize the therapeutic properties of the thermal waters.
Today,
these facilities are state-of-the-art, offering the most modern technology, the
highest standards of comfort and (of course) gourmet cuisine. Tuscany
boasts many of the country’s most prestigious spas, recognized to be among the
best in Europe . Just about every province in
the region has an excellent spa resort, and there are also many public thermal
baths where people can enjoy these natural mineral waters for the day, much as
one would go to a public swimming pool.
Another
reason to visit Tuscany ’s
spas is that they are usually in historic towns which in and of themselves
justify the trip. Among the most characteristic is Bagno Vignoni. Located on a
hill overlooking the beautiful Val d’Orcia, this unique medieval village has been remarkably preserved. The
unusual thing about this town is that it is built around a square of water. This rectangular tank, called
the “Square of Sources ” contains the steamy thermal
waters that come from the underground aquifer of volcanic origins and confer an
almost dreamlike atmosphere.
Bagno
Vignoni was made famous by the ancient Romans who recognized the healing power
of its waters. Later, in the Middle Ages, it became even more popular due to
its proximity to the Via Francigena – an important route connecting Northern
Europe to Italy .
Pilgrims often stopped in the village on their way to Rome
to rest, taking advantage of the hot
springs to rejuvenate themselves. During the early
Renaissance the town became a sought after vacation destination for many of the
most illustrious figures of the time, including Pope Pius II, Saint Catherine
of Siena and Lorenzo de’ Medici.
Still
today, this remarkable place leaves its mark on the visitor and it continues to
be one of the most well-known spa locations in Tuscany, where you can find
modern facilities to enjoy a wide range of treatments. In addition, the
stunning landscape of the local area, the nearby towns of San Quirico, Pienza
and Montalcino, as well as some of the most impressive abbeys in Italy
(Sant’Antimo and Monte Oliveto Maggiore) make a trip to Bagno Vignoni an
absolutely unforgettable experience.