I have already written about my other three favorite spas in Tuscany.  They are:

4) Grotta Giusti Terme
3) Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort
2) Castello del Nero

My favorite spa in Tuscany is in an area called Maremma – not well-known to American tourists but much-loved by Italians.

Maremma, located in the southwestern corner of Tuscany and a flourishing agricultural region since Etruscan and early Roman times, is a new experience every time you visit. The area is a mix of sandy beaches… pine forests…crystal blue seas…rocky coastlines…hidden bays…unspoiled islands…wheat fields…hill towns…fishing villages…medieval castles…and stunning landscapes rich in both nature and history. You’ll also find yourself among a welcoming people who are always eager to share their history, their culture and most especially, their fine food specialties and wines with visitors throughout the year.

Maremma is also where you will find the Italian cowboys or Butteri gathering and branding longhorn cattle and horses that graze freely on the Tuscan range.

If you are fascinated by ancient civilizations, there are a number of remarkable sites to visit in the area. Saturnia, was a beautiful ancient Roman city, which according to legend, was founded by the god Saturn, and is known to this day for its celebrated spas and sulfurous hot springs. It is here that you will find my favorite spa, the Terme di Saturnia.

Number 1: Terme di Saturnia, Saturnia, Tuscany (Italy)

Spa: Everything at this spa and hotel is focused on your well-being. Even the varied architecture has been designed with furnishings and colors that merge into an atmosphere of multi-sensory pleasures. All your needs are catered to through five fundamental elements: hydrotherapy, beauty, stress management, diet and fitness.

As with most spas in Italy, physicians are on staff to prescribe a program for you, should you so desire.  Or, you can simply indulge in beauty and relaxation therapies.

As you enter the spa area, you are wrapped in a sensation of comfort through a play of lights and different hues (from blue/violet to lilac) that line the route towards one of the 60 treatment rooms.

The Terme di Saturnia is the most awarded medical/thermal spa in Europe.  Massages, beauty treatments, medical spa cures and fitness are combined to help guests find the ultimate in well-being. In 2008, Terme di Saturnia was named as a best spa by Spa Finder, Forbes.com, the Robb Report (top 100 ultimate escapes) and the UK Condé Nast Traveller.

Massages, beauty treatments, fitness programs, thermal and medical spa cures all target your total well-being and balance.  You can indulge in regenerative treatments aimed at the restoration of energy or advanced medical consultations.

The numerous treatments offered can be viewed and downloaded at the following link: http://www.termedisaturnia.it/doc_din/MenuTrattam_ING.pdf

Hotel: The hotel and golf resorts make up the remainder of your luxury stay. The Terme di Saturnia Hotel (a “Leading Hotels of the World” property) was constructed in harmony with its ancient surroundings and consists of 140 rooms, including 2 Grand Suites, 3 Suites and 71 Junior Suites.  Every meticulous detail has been designed to create an atmosphere of total well-being.

The hotel includes a Spa Boutique for health and beauty purchases, two restaurants and Cruciani (an elegant store carrying cashmere), a spa café and a new atelier (Aldo Coppola by Terme di Saturnia).

Art exhibitions are regularly held in the fine art gallery.  The thermal park of hot-water swimming pools, waterways and Roman bath are fed by the original springs found naturally on this property. An open-air juice bar serves refreshing smoothies and snacks created with fresh ingredients.

Restaurants and local wines: The two restaurants at the hotel are Aqualuce and All’Acquacotta.  Both are inspired by ancient Mediterranean and Tuscan traditions.

At Ristorante Aqualuce, you can try innovative, sophisticated international fare where the freshest ingredients are matched to create offerings of the highest quality.

At Acquacotta restaurant, the chef masterfully combines only the freshest seasonal produce for the tastiest of offerings paired with the finest local wines.  At both restaurants, you can also follow the spa menu prescribed by your Terme di Saturnia dietician (a member of the on-site medical team).

La Maremma has been known for its high-quality vineyards since the Roman era Nowadays the region’s most famous wines include the red Morellino di Scansano; reds, whites and rosés produced in Capalbio DOC, the southernmost part of the Grosseto province; and the whites and reds of Sovana DOC, which are cultivated in the Tufo (volcanic rock) Area.

Golf Course: Finally, for golf lovers (or for those spouses and friends who do not partake in spa treatments), Terme di Saturnia includes a lush and prestigious 18 hole par 72 professional golf course designed by California architect Ronald Fream.  Here you can play among the natural wonders as this is a course developed with green technology and adherence to regulations that protect the local environment.  The 173 acres of gently undulating greens are also ideal for sightings of deer, porcupines, hares, pheasants and many local species of birds and help make this a one-of-a-kind golf experience.

Golf course link: http://www.termedisaturnia.it/golf/en/main/course/

Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort
Saturnia (Gr) - Tuscany - Italy
Tel   +39 0564/ 600111
Fax + 39 0564 601266
E-mail: info@termedisaturnia.it

Member of the Leading Hotels of the World