Montecatini Terme
By Carl Scott
A town with medieval thermal baths just 3/4 of an hour from our house. It is considered as one of the biggest spa towns in Italy and to be honest, a bit like Pisa with its tower, this is what it’s known for. That said, there’s plenty more to see here too.
Thermal waters and spas
Not only can you have everything from saunas and beauty treatments to massages and mud baths, you can actually drink the waters of the Terme di Montecatini!
You have nine thermal centres to choose from and architecturally speaking, the spas of Montecatini offer a fabulous example of open-air Art Nouveau.
Viale Verdi is worth a visit; also known as “Vialone dei Bagni”. Bagni literally translates to bathroom but of course in this case refers to the baths, as opposed to a toilet! Wander the length of the Viale and you’ll find:
The “Palazzina Regia”, which is days gone by was the summer residence of the Medici family.
The War Memorial in the Royal Park, opposite the Town Hall.
Then the Town Hall itself, built just over a hundred years ago.
The Padiglione dei Sali (Pavilion of salts) This is at the entrance of the Verdi theatre; in days gone by it was where salts were sold but is now home to a number of businesses.
The fountains
There are some amazing fountains in Montecatini Terme. Some within the spas themselves, as well as within the streets and squares. The most important notable ones are the Fountain Mazzoni in the square in front of the railway station, the Guidotti Fountain in Piazza del Popolo and the Fountain of Shingu, which surrounds the two spas of Leopoldine and Tettuccio in Piazza Giusti at the end of the long Vialone dei Bagni.
