Last week I was in Italy and I took the opportunity to enjoy a couple of days of kids free relax while my girls stayed with family.
I picked Tuscany for my SPA retreat, even if it was a good five hours drive from home, but I knew it was totally worth it.
I chose to stay in an agriturismo on the hills, a small holiday farm which produces organic food such pasta and bread from ancient grains, olive oil, honey, fruits and vegetables. I don’t think I can find words to describe the quality of the food I had the privilege to taste. I loved everything from the breakfast to the after dinner spirits, all locally made.
My SPA retreat wasn’t about jacuzzi and massages, it was in the Latin meaning of Salus Per Aqua, literally Health By Water. A short drive from the agriturismo there is Saturnia, a small town popular for its thermal hot springs. This town takes its name from the Roman god of Saturn, legend has it that he grew tired of the constant wars of humans and sent a thunderbolt to the hearth that created a magic spring of warm sulphurous water which would pacify mankind.
The spring water of the Saturnia travels into the depths of the earth of Mount Amiata lasting 40 years. The thermal spring water is mineral because during its underground journey it mineralizes, absorbing carbon dioxide and discharging it onto the marl and travertine which, at a depth of 200 m, dissolves due to the effect of CO2, releasing sulphur, calcium, sulphates and magnesium; it also absorbs vitamins and gases before rising to the surface at a constant temperature of 37.5°.
The flow of water is almost 800 litres per second: this allows the source pool and the pools of the thermal park to be completely changed every 4 hours, 6 times a day, making it uncontaminated.
Thanks to its components, the spring water has specific therapeutic properties:
· It promotes skin vasodilation and the reduction of blood pressure
· It acts as a muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory on the muscular and skeletal system
· It amplifies respiratory acts and increases pulmonary ventilation
· It promotes the fluidification of secretions, with an anti-inflammatory effect
· Exfoliates, cleanses and has antiseptic properties on the skin
· It relaxes the muscles and reduces osteoarticular pain
Now my experience and some tips. Saturnia has a private SPA Resort which has paid entry and a public thermal park called Cascatelle del Molino, they are very close to each other and share the same water. Cascatelle is the place to go, it is free and it is absolutely stunning. Cascatelle (waterfalls) are an ancient formation of natural travertine basins produced by the action of the Gorello stream, they are always open therefore you can visit them at any time.
There is car parking nearby at the cost of 2.50 euros per hour, and a cafeteria where you can rent a locker for 5 euros and get a shower if you like (showers work with tokens).
Sulphurous water hasn’t a pleasant smell but you get used pretty quickly to it. I visited Cascatelle in the afternoon, just after a rainy morning, and fortunately the place wasn’t too crowded. During summer months can be very difficult to find a place in one of the basins, I advise you to wear water shoes as it could be tricky walking in there.
I believe I spent about an hour in the water, enjoying the sunset in total relaxation. I’m not sure if this short time was enough to appreciate the benefits of the thermal water on my skin and body, but it definitely helped to calm my mind. The water noise, the bubbles massage and the great scenery all played a part in making me feel in peace with myself.
Kommentare