If it’s a day of decadent bliss you’re after, Tuscany offers a wide array of day spas, resorts and hotels built right next to (or above) healing thermal springs. There are several different types of hotels, though. Some resemble a 1960’s clinic, and attract, mostly, a local, elderly crowd – men and women who come on doctor’s orders to take advantage of the springs’ medicinal properties. Others are typical 3-star hotels, which offer a mid-range, pleasant experience; and others still are the best of the best, excellent resorts which offer various beauty treatments, spectacular views, indoor and outdoor pools, and refined rooms.
If it’s the high-end experience you are after (and in Tuscany high-end doesn’t necessarily mean very pricey! You’d be surprised with the offers you find), consult Tuscany for the Shameless Hedonist. In our guide we have listed some of the very best day spas and resorts in the region. We have also listed the best restaurants in the area (within a short drive of the different spas), as well as some highly recommended wine tours and tastings, to make sure our readers have a truly memorable experience. What kind of resorts and spas might you expect to find in Tuscany? Below are two recommendations for two high-end resorts worth exploring. For other options, consult the guide.
FONTEVERDE SPA RESORT The Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort exudes luxury, and is one of the best options in the Chianti area. The resort is set in a renovated 17th-century country estate formerly of the de Medici family, and boasts 66 rooms and 7 suites, all of which are beautifully designed. However, the real forte of this resort isn’t the hotel rooms, but the spa (which is also open to outside guests).
The Fonteverde spa is built around a thermal spring discovered by the ancient Etruscans and offers over 100 treatments. Five indoor pools and two outdoor pools are at the guests’ disposal. The view from the thermal pools of vineyards and olive groves crisscrossing the Siena hills is magnificent, and reason enough for choosing this spa for a day of pampering (before or after your visit to one of the many vineyards in the area, naturally…). Alternatively, a visit to Fonteverde’s night spa is a highly recommended. Like many other spa facilities in the region, Fonteverde offers access at night for a bit of an after-dark treat. In our opinion, soaking at the thermal pool under the stars (and for a reasonable fee of €22) and then enjoying the facility’s beautiful bioacqum (thermal hydro-massage) is a perfect way to end a day of Tuscan adventures. Fonteverde Tuscan Resort & Spa, www.fonteverdespa.com
GIUSTI HOTEL AND SPA In Northern Tuscany, another excellent spa awaits. At first glance, the Giusti Resort and Spa seems like your average Tuscan 4-star hotel; golf course, spa, elegantly converted rooms overlooking the town of Monsummano Terme. But look (quite literally) a little deeper and it becomes clear that Giusti has some secrets. Below the hotel and set deep into the Tuscan hills is an enchanting grotto spa. The labyrinthine cave system, which experiences 100% humidity and temperatures between 31°C and 34°C, has been converted into a full-service thermal spa.
Find our more about the very best that Tuscany has to offer, from the top recommended restaurants in Florence to the best sights and activities, top festivals, and best wine tours and Chianti tastings in our best selling travel guide, Tuscany for the Shameless Hedonist (now on sale on Amazon). Diving excursions through the depths of the cave system can be organized for the more adventurous. Alternatively, the view of the Tuscan countryside from the thermal swimming pool is the perfect way to relax, and a cheeky cocktail will surely contribute to your overall condition. Grotta Giusti Resort, Golf & Spa, www.grottagiustispa.com.
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