11 Best Thermal Spas in Italy
In Italy, there are numerous spas where you can spend fabulous holidays dedicated to wellness. These spas are of great importance nationally and internationally. Equally numerous are the accommodation facilities that have integrated their services with wellness and spa centers.
Let’s see below which are the most famous spas in Italy.
Trentino-South Tyrol
Alto Adige is the northernmost region of Italy, where three different language groups coexist: German, Italian, and Ladin.
This region, characterized by high mountains, is the ideal destination to spend your holidays in thermal baths and hotels with a spa.
In the thermal establishments and the numerous spas, you can relax by combining the benefits of thermal waters with those of the uncontaminated nature surrounding you.
Terme Merano
The most renowned spa is that of Merano, which can benefit from a source of radioactive water containing radon, a substance particularly suitable for treating osteoarthritis and the various osteoartro-muscular diseases. Radioactivity is light and naturally does not cause negative consequences for the human body.
Today the spas in Merano are inserted in modern architecture. They are equipped with a Spa & Vital Center, numerous swimming pools and saunas, a Fitness Center, and a restaurant. It is also characterized by a park that extends over about 51,000 square meters where there is a pool for counter-current swimming, pools with hot and cold water, and a pool for the Kneipp method.
Abruzzo
In Abruzzo, a region of central Italy, we find the Apennines’ highest peaks, located on Gran Sasso D’Italia and the Maiella massif. The remaining hilly part is suspended between these peaks and the sea. This region offers numerous spas immersed in the green of Apennines.
Terme di Popoli
Among the most important spas, we find the Terme di Popoli, located in Pescara. These spas are located in an area rich in springs used in various thermal treatments for their properties.
The water of the Terme di Popoli has an abundance of calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. This is why it is indicated in low-sodium diets and is used to treat the digestive system, respiratory tract, liver, skin, and musculoskeletal system.
Rehabilitation thermalism is also practiced here, which uses the combination of the benefits of mud and water. Inside the spa complex are also gyms and equipped paths in nature. These spas are located near the Sorgenti del Pescara Nature Reserve, easily accessible from the hotels and set in a spectacular natural landscape.
Aosta Valley
Immersed in the Alpine mountains’ green, Aosta Valley offers numerous spas where you can enjoy a relaxing holiday. The spas in this region are renowned precisely because they combine the waters’ beneficial properties with the alpine landscape and breathtaking views.
Among the most famous spas, we mention the thermal baths of Prè-Saint-Didier, which are rich in minerals and perfect for combating circulatory system diseases.
Thermal spa of Pré-Saint-Didier
The thermal bath of Prè-Saint-Didier is a historic establishment near Courmayeur and immersed in an alpine landscape: it rises, in fact, at Mont Blanc’s foot, offering unique views. The spa of Prè Saint Didier is part of those types of spas dedicated to relaxation.
The thermal springs flow from the mountain surrounding the town, and in its underground path, it is enriched with minerals and gushes at 36 ° C. The spa extends over 500 square meters and has pools with different depths, saunas, Turkish baths, and whirlpools. A passage has also been added that connects the outdoor pools with the indoor ones.
Also, in this spa, you will find special treatments, such as the sauna’s heat alternating with the cold of an igloo. Or the room with Himalayan salt, ideal for disinfecting the airways or purifying the steam bath.
Veneto
Veneto is a very famous destination for those who decide to spend their holidays at the spa. In fact, there are numerous spas in this region that are linked to all wellness treatments, such as baths, muds, and massages. The most famous spas are the Terme di Montegrotto and the Abano Terme.
Terme di Montegrotto
The Terme di Montegrotto is located a few kilometers from Padua. Immersed in the Euganean Hills Regional Park’s greenery, they are the ideal destination for those who want to relax body and mind.
The water of the Terme di Montegrotto gushes out at a temperature of 87 ° C and is very effective in treating chronic bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, and other respiratory diseases. Besides, mud is also used, which is effective against diseases of the muscular and skeletal system.
Abano Terme
Abano Terme is also near Padua and has been known since ancient times for its therapeutic qualities. It was, in fact, known by the Romans as early as 2,000 years ago. The water, which flows at a temperature of up to 80 ° C, is mixed with the mud and creates a very special plant microflora ready to be used for body care’s therapeutic action.
The Terme di Abano is well known for treating rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, joint pain for the treatment in the after-effects of trauma and fractures. Furthermore, thermal water, nebulized in aerosols, is suitable for treating respiratory system diseases.
Unlike many spas, Abano Terme stands out for its particular therapeutic accommodation facilities. Most hotels have private spas inside the structures.
Lombardy
Lombardy has a long spa tradition, and some of the most important spas in Italy are here.
Thermal Baths of Boario
Among these are the thermal baths of Boario in Valle Camonica, Brescia, surrounded by a centenary park of 130,000 square meters, including a spa village, a fitness trail, a botanical garden, and a playground.
The baths of Boario are fed by 4 water sources that flow from Mount Altissimo at a temperature between 13 ° and 15 ° C. Each source has different therapeutic indications: the “Fausta” source has high mineralization and is suitable for treatment and prevention of digestive problems; the “Igea” source is low in sodium and has anti-inflammatory properties; the “Boario” source is indicated for the treatment of kidney stones; the Antica Fonte is instead indicated for cholecystopathies.
The treatments offered range from mud therapy, inhalation, massage, and physical rehabilitation therapies. The Boario thermal baths also have a beauty center with body treatments, a spa with a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath, emotional showers, and a salt room.
Thanks to the numerous accommodation facilities in the town of Boario, you can take advantage of the benefits of the thermal waters and immerse yourself in the park’s greenery.
Emilia Romagna
The Salsomaggiore thermal baths are the most famous in Emilia Romagna, the region with Bologna as its capital, the ancient university city with the Asinelli Tower, and the Garisenda Tower as symbols.
Salsomaggiore thermal baths
The Salsomaggiore thermal baths are located in the same name locality, in the province of Parma. They are one of the most important spa complexes in Europe. There are four types of water with a high salt concentration: five times higher than the Mediterranean Sea. Inside are sodium, iodine, bromine, and numerous minerals, such as iron, giving it a reddish appearance. They are cold waters with a temperature of 16 ° C.
The spa treatments mainly consist of thermal baths and mud. The mud of the Salsomaggiore thermal baths is extracted from water wells, mixed with local clay, and left to mature for two years in the thermal waters. It is ideal for those suffering from diseases related to muscles, joints, and aesthetic treatments.
Tuscany
Tuscany is also renowned for its numerous spas, the most important of which is Montecatini Terme in the province of Pistoia. This beautiful town in Tuscany is known for its healing waters, whose beneficial properties are suitable for body care. These spas are most famous for treating liver, intestines, and digestive diseases.
In Terme di Montecatini, it is also possible to undergo massages, physical therapies, mud baths, saunas, beauty treatments in the wellness center, and inhalation treatments. This Tuscan town also has wonderful spa parks, such as Tettuccio, Regina, Excelsior, and Redi, surrounded by nature’s charm.
Terme di Saturnia
Near Manciano, in the province of Grosseto, stands the Terme di Saturnia. Here you can undergo treatment for the following physical problems: skin diseases, diseases of the respiratory, locomotor, and circulatory systems. These spas’ waters are sulfurous and have a temperature of 37.5 ° C, flowing directly from a crater of volcanic origin. It is famous for its many benefits, including a therapeutic action for the skin. The relaxation area also has a spectacular panoramic view of the Maremma landscape.
Terme di Petriolo
Finally, we have the Terme di Petriolo, located in the province of Siena, immersed in a fairytale landscape and surrounded by the splendid Tuscan countryside. These baths were known in Roman times, and the first spa was built during the Renaissance, at the beginning of the 15th century. Today the Petriolo thermal establishment consists of a modern structure. It is fed by a water source that flows at a temperature of 43 ° C.
Much of the water is used in the spa, while the remainder is collected in stone basins placed along the river. You can access these pools for free.
The waters of the Terme di Petriolo have anti-inflammatory properties and are used to treat diseases related to respiratory disorders, osteoarticular, and skin diseases. The surrounding Natural Park and the city of Siena, just a few kilometers away, offer a wonderful relaxing holiday.
Campania
Among the Italian regions richest in spas is Campania, one of the most renowned regions from an artistic, cultural, and landscape perspective.
Thermal Spas on Ischia
The island of Ischia, easily accessible from Naples, is of volcanic origin, and its territory is dotted with springs, fumaroles, and muds. An ideal place for spa activity.
In ancient times, the thermal baths of Ischia have been used since the time of ancient Rome. Today, spa tourism is one of the most important attractions for the Island of Ischia, characterized by alkaline water.
Spas on the island of Ischia are, in fact, emblems of the so-called Health Tourism. Ischia’s thermal waters effectively treat some diseases related to the joint, endocrine, and respiratory systems. They are also ideal for dermatological diseases and recovery from trauma. Hotels in Ischia will allow you to quickly and easily reach the spas in the area.
The island’s most famous and renowned spas are Forio, Lacco Ameno, Casamicciola, Cavascura, and the Aphrodite Apollon Thermal Park.
Piedmont
Acqui Terme is the best-known spa town in Piedmont, a region with a predominantly mountainous landscape dotted with rivers and streams. The regional capital is Turin, home to an important university and rich in history and culture.
Acqui Terme
Acqui Terme is a town in the province of Alessandria, and its name indicates the importance that the thermal springs have held since Roman times.
In Acqui Terme, there are two spas: the “Nuove Terme,” which is located in the city center, near the railway station, and the “Regina plant,” which is further away from the city center, inside the park spa, which also houses the lake of the “Antiche Terme” and the thermal fountain of the “Acqua Marcia.”
In addition to the two establishments, Acqui also has a Wellness Center completely dedicated to beauty and wellness treatments: the “Lago delle Sorgenti.”
There are three sources of the thermal baths in Acqui: the “Bollente” which springs at a temperature of 75 ° C and gushes in the heart of the city; the less hot one, which springs up at a temperature of 50 ° C giving life to a thermal lake in the “Antiche Terme“; finally the “Acqua Marcia” spring, not very hot but rich in minerals.
These waters are ideal for treating various diseases related to the skeletal, muscular, and respiratory systems. There are thermal muds, hydro massage, inhalations, and relaxing and healing massages, in addition to the classic thermal pools for relaxation and balneotherapy baths.
