My husband and I want to find a nice, but not luxurious, spa in southern Tuscany to visit for a day at the end of November. We will be driving from Rome, will drive to Pitigliano, and would then like to find a nice, but not expensive, hotel near a nice spa. We are travelling with an older couple and a 4-year-old child. Are kids permitted at most spas? Are there any particular spa recommendations anyone has? I have seen Bagni di Petriolo mentioned, but can't find any details about it. I have also considered Saturnia, but have learned that the Saturnia spa is closed for renovations(thermal swimming pool is still open, however). If you know of other good spa locations, please mention those, too, since we could vary our trip. Hotel recommendations would also be appreciated. I would consider going to a natural setting thermal pool, if it wouldn't be too much of a roughing-it experience for our older travelling companions. If we do that, are there any thermal pools in natural settings which are especially nice? Thanks!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
I would recommend the spa at San Casciano dei Bagni. We have stayed in that area a few times and it is lovely. Friends of ours did a day at the spa in September and liked it - said it was very modern. There is a really nice looking hotel in San Casciano - Hotel Sette Querce. We have not stayed there or been inside, but have driven by it: http://www.tuscany.net/settequerce/pages/profile.htm
Thanks, Pauline. Yes, we're going this November. We leave for Rome in just 3 days. I'm no longer certain about the status of the Saturnia spa, which my earlier message indicated was already closed for renovations (except the thermal pool). I received slightly different information today. It appears that the spa IS open for services now through the end of the year, but will close for renovations in January 2003. There are apparently some renovations underway already, though, and there were apologies that there may be some construction noise in the spa as a result. I'm still a little confused about this, since I've gotten conflicting information from two sources in the area, but I wanted anyone reading this to be forewarned to check it out. All that being said, Pauline would you still recommend San Casciano over Saturnia if you were making a choice between the two? Do you know anything about Il Poggio which is another hotel near San Casciano? I'm also intrigued by the thermal springs in natural settings. Are there any that are particularly beautiful? Our older companions would probably prefer a day of spa treatments, but my husband, son and I would probably prefer finding a natural setting pool to soak in. Thanks, Pauline, for your help, and for this wonderful forum.
my friends just went to the Saturnia spa last week. It is open. There is the Wild hot springs, down the road in the old water mill( no changing rooms nothing.. bring a big towel!) The wild springs are really beautiful.. as I was soaking once years ago, someone told me about how the shepards used to bring their sheep through the springs on the way to shearing to disinfect them! Then I looked down into the water and say small things moving in the water.. some sort of larve?? anyway, I was with a scientist and she said that the water would kill anything that would hurt us.... it was very cool though.
Judy Divina Cucina Florence Everyone should try being Italian at least once a day!!
For outdoor springs, the Saturia ones are best and would not be so crowded this time of year. Look at my hot springs page that I linked to above for photos of the different places.
I would probably pick the Saturia spa - but I only know about it from reading about it in a book (I think the Garden in Lucca book - he did a trip there). There are very nice hotels in Saturnia and that area.
Il Poggio is in a nice location (outside Celle sul Rigo) and has a good restaurant (we ate there several years go and Hanan just posted a review of it and he liked it). Celle sul Rigo is a very small town - San Casciano is only 5 minutes away and is a much nicer town (prettier). Saturnia is also very nice and from there you can easily explore Pitigliano. Saturnia is bigger than Celle sul Rigo and San Casciano.
Also, I think San Casciano spa has closed by now - I just remembered that. Check my hot springs page - I think I have a link.
I vote for Saturnia spa and stay in Saturnia. My favorite restaurant in that area is I Due Cippi in Saturnia. We try to go there on each trip.
Pauline, is it possible you meant that the Bagni San Fillipo spa is closed now (that's what the slowtrav spa page says), or did you really mean the San Casciano spa? I'm still puzzled about where to stay, and would appreciate any more recommendations, since the place I wanted to stay in Saturnia, the Relais de Stellata is fully booked (and the Hotel Saturnia looks too expensive for me) and the Hotel Sette Querce (near San Casciano), recommended in this thread, is also fully booked. Can anyone give me other ideas? Thanks!
You know, I hate to say this, but I would give up the whole spa idea. More fun would be to find a nice hotel up near Pienza, San Quirico, Montalcino and just have a good time there. I thought it very odd that my friends spent a whole day of their 2 week trip to Italy (first time) going to a spa. When they could have been wandering thru the hilltowns.
And the natural outdoor ones might be too cold to use at this time of year - not the water, but getting out of your clothes behind the bushes or, as at Saturnia, scrunched down behind your car in a big field full of cars.
The spa visit is for the benefit of our travelling companions, an older couple who we are taking on this trip, and whose heart is set on having a spa experience. So, as much as I might prefer to follow your sage advice, Pauline, I can't drop the spa idea without disappointing them. I agree that it shouldn't consume a lot of our travel time, though I think that having a few hours of rest and relaxation will stand us all in good stead. It was my thought to stay at a hotel near one of the spas, and visit the spa for only a few hours. So, if there is anyone with suggestions for a nice place to stay near Saturnia or San Casciano, please pass them on. By the way, two of your suggestions, Pauline, for towns to visit-- Pienza and Montalcino -- are on our list of places to explore while we are staying in Siena as a home base. I've never been to either and am excited to see them. Are there any other towns near Siena that are high on anyone's list?
North into Chianti: Castellina, Panzano, Greve. South into the Crete: San Quirico, Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano. West: Monteriggioni, San Gimignano East: Can't think of ones right now - but really most towns in the area around Siena are fabulous to visit.
About spas, I believe there are spas in Montepulciano, which would solve the problem of too much travel time. Does anyone know? Also, I am living outside of Rome in Lazio and have heard the spa at Viterbo, which has a website (don't have it off-hand), is very nice. I would love to check it out and will post a review as soon as I do. Also, I would love to hear the answer about children at spas, too, as I have two little ones.
Hi Betsy!! Mary Jane, who lives in Vetralla, south of Viterbo, loves the Viterbo spa.
We got a brochure from the Montepulciano spa, but it looked "old fashioned" - you know that more medicinal type of spa where you need a doctor's prescription or something.
And, Betsy, when are you going to tell us all about life in Italy?
I remember there also being spa's in Rapolano Terme... with hotels! Also nearby Chiancano Terme. These are all,places that normally your doctor would send you!
In Radda in Chianti there is the Palazzo Leopoldo ( really nice) that has a beauty center, sauna, looks like jacuzzi and massages!
Ah, Pauline...life in Italy! As soon as I can figure out what I am paying for my internet connection, whether it is .60 or $60. and hour! Settling in is taking longer than I imagined (what was I thinking with two tiny ones...). These days I am lucky to get on the internet to check e-mail.
But, briefly, today the weather was incredible. Sunny and warm, my daughter was playing outside with shirt, no jacket. Although I am living right outside Rome, I have only been in once, but am just beginning to arrange childcare, etc. There are definitely many international people living in the via Cassia area autside Rome. Lots of international schools, too. Our commune has Italian lessons for 150 Euros a year, two hours a week. We have also found Suzuki piano lessons and Indian dance in the area.
The local food is fantastic, and food definitely is cheaper here than in NM. It's great to be here and I look forward to more time exploring Rome. More later!
Slow Travel Talk 
