Qthat of spa it is an ancient wellness ritual, practiced all over the world. Here are the places we recommend you try this autumn winter
That of spa it is an ancient wellness ritual, practiced all over the world. From the Blue Lagoon in Iceland to the Pamukkale waterfalls in Turkey and the Takaragawa Onsen pools in Japan, the pleasure of thermal water unites cultures that are very distant from each other.
Indoor spa
And if the springs immersed in nature have a particular charm, it is in the spas that relaxation becomes total, because there everything is designed to welcome us and make us feel good.
The very first one seems to have been built in the Campi Flegrei in the 1st century BC by a certain Sergio Caio Orata and there were 11 of them in Imperial Rome. Even today in our peninsula there are spas with very ancient origins. The splendid palace that Pope Nicholas V had built in Viterbo dates back to 1450 to relax more comfortably in the 58°C waters of the Bullicame spring. Also described by Dante in the Inferno, they still feed the Monumental swimming pool today Baths of the Popes, as well as heating the Natural Cave, saturating it with beneficial sulphurous vapour. They are hyperthermal waters with strong antioxidant power, perfect for the classic 12-day treatment cycle agreed with the NHS, but also for a day of pampering. Open 365 days a year, they close at 1am on Saturdays to allow swimming in the moonlight.
The Baths, however, date back to the Renaissance of Fonteverdeinside a seventeenth-century palace that belonged to Grand Duke Ferdinando I dei Medici a San Casciano dei Bagniin the province of Siena. With a 5,000 m2 spa park and spectacular infinity pools on the hills of Val d’Orcia, they offer 5-star hospitality with treatments inspired by the seasons, such as the strawberry grape scented scrub. The waters, with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, flow from 42 sources scattered around the village, also feeding two ancient wash houses.
They collect the tradition of the Roman baths i Old and New Baths of Bormio, the first born about twenty years ago from the large family of the Quadrio Curzio brothers, who with their QC Terme opened the first spa center in New York this year. From the Manhattan skyline to the panoramas of the Valtellina mountains, the formula remains the same, with spa experiences in unique settings that become convivial moments with the evening aperitif included in the entrance fee. The panoramic pool, the Archduchess of Austria’s tub and the natural sauna in the San Martino Cave express all the ancient magic of Bagni Vecchi. Belle Époque atmospheres, however, for the Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi, with a thermal path in 4 sectors, from the biosauna with the ancient pine wood paneling to the thermal pools with music therapy. Not to be missed in both structures is the bath under the stars and the bubbles for the aperitif in a bathrobe, always supplied together with a towel and slippers (qcterme.com). In addition to the stay in the design apartments of Villa Bagni di Bormio, in the two historic hotels of the spa centers there is also a Wellness Working proposal, for those who want to alternate work and moments of well-being. And it’s really a shame not to stay longer in a destination like Bormio, which has so much to offer in every season, from food and wine to sport. To ski on the 110 km of slopes of the area this year the ski pass can be purchased online, saving thanks to dynamic rates. Starting from 4 days of skiing there is a free entrance to the Bagni di Bormio, the third spa center in the Valtellina town, designed for the fun and relaxation of the whole family, with health treatments affiliated with the NHS (Bormio. eu).
Regenerating baths at high altitude
There Swiss it is the right choice if you want to combine spas and sports holidays. TO LeukerbadIn the Valais, the hot thermal waters are so abundant that they even feed the fountains. There are three public baths, there are the large ones Leukerbad Therme, with a natural temperature between 28 and 43°C, the panoramic Walliser Alpentherme & Spa Leukerbad with Valais-style swimming pools and saunas and the Therme 51, more intimate and ancient (leukerbad.ch). They are ideal for loosening your muscles after the 50 km of ski slopes on Mount Torrent or snowshoeing on the paths of Passo Gemmi. To get up there you have to overcome a vertical rock wall 900 meters high. It was once one of the most difficult via ferratas in the Alps, but today it only takes a few minutes by cable car. The view enjoyed from the terrace of the modern refuge is unforgettable Wildstrubel (2,346 metres), where you can enjoy a traditional raclette while sipping a fragrant Valais wine, but also spend the night and enjoy the sunset from the large windows of the spa (myswitzerland.it).
One of the fascinating reasons for those who choose a high altitude spa center is being able to admire the mountains among the hot vapors of a hydromassage, from a panoramic sauna or from the relaxation rooms.
TO Pozza di Fassain the heart of Dolomites A Unesco Heritage site, you can experience the emotion of contemplating the profile of the Catinaccio while letting yourself be lulled in the waters of the only sulfur spring in Trentino, the Alloch spring which flows at 1,320 meters above sea level and has been known for its properties since the 15th century. century. Then you dive into the woods for a “forest bath” (fassa.com and visittrentino.info). Thermal waters are the lifeblood of the QC Terme Dolomiti, three floors all dedicated to well-being for 4 thousand square metres, with great panoramic views and lots of wood in homage to the Ladin culture of the area. Must try it Perlage saunainspired by the olfactory experiences of the Ferrari Cellar, the famous Trentino bubbles that characterize the bathrobe aperitif on Friday evenings (on weekends until 11pm, qctermedolomiti.it).
The waters of the Alloch are also at the center of nearby treatments Dolomia spa, which offer treatment programs for various pathologies that are covered by the national NHS. For a short but effective get back into shape there are also three-day detoxifying packages with hay oil massages, mud baths, thermal baths and walks with a kinesiologist.
Super sweet treatments at the spa
In Sloveniain the town of Lasko, there is a center in the greenery which, in addition to thermal pools suitable for the whole family, offers Ayurveda to achieve a deeper balance. At Thermana Laskoawarded for sustainable tourism, you will find a corner of India with packages that combine thermal baths, yoga and Ayurvedic rejuvenation, as well as honey-based treatments, an excellence of this country rightly defined as the Green Heart of Europe.
Gentle approach for women too Merano Spa (termemerano.it) in South Tyrol, which at the end of November will inaugurate a new South Tyrolean honey steam bath, with the buzzing of bees in the background. The Winter Special Nights allow guests to stay inside the Merano Spa until midnight.
Very comfortable, theHotel Terme Merano it is connected to the structure by a tunnel that you can walk through in your bathrobe. However, it does have the panoramic Sky Spa with heated infinity pool and the Garden spa.
Finally, 360 degree relaxation Bagno di Romagnaon the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines, where walks in the Wellbeing Forest, are combined with hot thermal water baths and genuine local cuisine. L’Hotel Sant’Agnese and the Ròseo Euroterme Wellness they offer interesting packages for the weekend or the week (bagnodiromagnaterme.it) and are an excellent starting point for exploring the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, with the thousand-year-old beech trees of the Sasso Fratino Integral Reserve and the magical paths of the Lama Forest, which can also be reached by MTB from the Ridracoli Dam.
Are you leaving with your children?
bimboinviaggio.com, the leading network in Italy for holidays with children, offers a selection of the best family friendly facilities in our country and abroad. There are 350 in total and can be booked directly from the site. The platform is also a privileged observatory and recently launched a survey aimed at 145 thousand parents which showed that families are now looking for larger, less crowded common spaces and wellness areas. Among the most appreciated services are child care divided by age group, the availability of babysitters on request and mini clubs with stimulating and educational proposals.
Spas in winter in Tuscany
Tuscany is one region rich in spa resorts: Saturnia, Chianciano Terme, Bagno Vignoni, Monsumanno Terme, San Casciano dei Bagni, just to name a few. However, some are outdoors, so in winter it is preferable to opt for indoor places. If you don’t fear the cold, the Saturnia spa, in the province of Grosseto, offers natural pools with water that reaches up to 37.5°: the external temperature will be cold, but immersed in the water you won’t notice it. In Montecatini there are 9 spa establishments where you can opt for spa treatments but also for modern treatments. Perhaps not everyone knows that Montecatini was a place much loved by the famous Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. In Chianciano, between the Val d’Orcia and the hills of Montepulciano, it is possible to combine the relaxation of the spa with art and history: a few kilometers away, in fact, is the beautiful town of Pienza. Finally, it is found in Florence the Asmana Wellness World, the largest wellness center in Italy: it is a very modern wellness center that also houses the largest hammam in our country. Here, among saunas, wellness programs, swimming pools and treatments of all kinds, you will be spoiled for choice.
Spa benefits in winter
In winter it is enough to spend a few hours at the spa to regenerate the body. During the cold season, in fact, the immune defenses are lowered and the body is weaker and exposed to the risk of falling ill. Thermal water, however, helps the body defend itself, stimulating the immune defenses, and has great benefits on some pathologies, in particular those of the respiratory tract and bones. The sauna, then, is a real panacea for the skin, because it reactivates the renewal of cells which, in winter, slows down.