HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AT THE SPA'S

In his Tractatus de balneis (1417), the famous doctor Ugolino da Montecatini reviewed the most important Italian spa resorts; he was the first who explained the extraordinary balneal-therapeutic and hydroponic properties of the thermal waters of Montecatini.
Just under the slopes of Montecatini there is great abundance of salty water (...). There are three baths:
In his "Tractatus de balneis" (1417), the famous doctor Ugolino da Montecatini reviewed the most
important Italian spa resorts; he was the first who explained the extraordinary balneal-therapeutic and hydroponic properties of the thermal waters of Montecatini.
"Just under the slopes of Montecatini there is great abundance of salty water (...). There are three baths: the first one, dating back to the earliest times (...) is visited by people (...) suffering from rheumatic pains (...). There is also a third bath (...), called "new bath", where the thermal spring is plentiful (...). Patients who drink this salty water praise the treatment (...). It marvelously treats the stomach (...) and helps to free the kidneys from any occlusion".

After the long period of the Medici's dynasty who reigned over the thermal areas of Montecatini, Peter Leopold of Lorraine, the Grand-Duke of Tuscany and future emperor of Austria, began in 1773 to build modern spa establishments. Inspired by the Habsburg model, Leopold created the thermal town named "Bagni di Montecatini".

Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Montecatini Terme became an internationally renowned spa and a downright "garden city".
Besides health treatments, visitors have the opportunity to experience the most modern and innovative practices of thermal well-being in one of Europe's most renowned centres: "Terme Excelsior".


The modern medical-scientific research and the present therapeutic planning
of the spa treatments today match the rehabilitative and precautionary treatments carried out through our waters. The aid of a pleasant environment, built on a human scale, along with the psychological enhancement of the joy of living you find here is combined with an exquisite hotel reception, thousands of recreational, artistic, sports and cultural opportunities offered in our town, in its historic hilly centre and in the surrounding Tuscan territory.

Well-being in your body and in your spirit complement each other in an effective therapy that allows you to reach the total psychological well-being that is needed more and more in today's world.

Montecatini Terme is an eruption of the joy of living.
One of the first characteristics that visitors notice is its green. Huge parks and splendid gardens full of flowers welcome our tourists.

Even our buildings look joyful thanks to their floral decorations. Montecatini Terme is considered one of the most important examples of the Art Nouveau artistic era, represented in many public and private buildings of the town.
As a matter of fact, there is much evidence left by one of the greatest interpreters of this period: Galileo Chini.
In this flowery joyful environment you can also discover a very captivating shopping area.

There are a lot of shopping opportunities; shops, coffee-bars and discotheques light up
the streets of Montecatini Terme, making it a lively, true, active town, without ever being frenetic.
Tourists can access the public areas, purchase the name brands of Tuscan and Italian fashion, all the while living a joyful experience.
Visit Montecatini Terme and you'll discover a smiling heart!


IN THE HEART OF TUSCANY

Montecatini Terme is located in the heart of Tuscany, very close to the most famous art towns.


It takes only thirty minutes to reach Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia and approximately one hour to reach Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra and the Chianti area.
The "Versilia" coast with its beautiful towns of Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio is also very near, about thirty minutes by car.




From Montecatini Terme you can easily reach Vinci, the place where Leonardo was born, or Carrara, where Michelangelo would extract marble to transform into art.

The hills that surround the Nievole Valley - where Montecatini is located - are scattered with many villages and castles, bulwarks of ancient times, witnesses to never ending battles.

Montecatini Terme stands strategically in the very centre of Tuscany and is the perfect starting point to visit all the most important and renowned resorts of our region, homeland of the Renaissance.


THE ESSENCE OF TUSCANY

Thanks to its hundred year old tradition of hospitality, Montecatini Terme is the most authentic cradle of the Tuscan nature.

Its cuisine originates in the great traditions of simple dishes, prepared using genuine products such as olive oil, wine, bread, vegetables and meat of the famous Chianina breedings.

But Tuscany also offers you elaborate recipes that evoke the magnificence of the Renaissance period when people discovered the wonders of art and food.

A stay in Montecatini Terme means discovering expressions and flavors based on passion and love for what we create; it means that we have a particular ability to transform natural products into delicious dishes, which are at the same time healthy and flavorful.

Montecatini Terme is located in the centre of a hilly area traditionally devoted to the cultivation of olive groves and vineyards.
Our olive oil, one of the best in Tuscany, is characterized by a full, fruity and spicy taste, rich in organoleptic properties.

We highly recommend a visit to our fantastic wine cellars to taste the natural flavors of our past traditions.

Montecatini is the ideal place to find healthy products and tasty food artistically prepared.