Read more about holidays in Montecatini and Monsummano Terme
In a 10-minute drive from Tuscany’s main water resort, Montecatini Terme, near the town of Monsummano Terme, in a quiet private park there is the famous five star Spa Hotel 5* Grotta Giusti Tuscany – booking.com, which includes a 19th century country palace and a wellness centre with its main gem, the huge thermal cave Grotta Giusti. The story of the “Gusti Cave” began in 1849, when several workers from a quarry owned by the Gusty family near the village of Monsummano accidentally found the entrance to a hole from which hot steam was rising. When they descended downstairs, they found an amazingly beautiful 300-metre cave with stalactites, stalagmites and an underground lake with its curative evaporations. The fame of the “steam cave” and its amazing properties spread throughout Italy and Europe very soon, and the Giusty family arranged several “treatment rooms” in the cave. In 1867 Giuseppe Garibaldi visited the cave, and in 1873 the “Royal Hotel” was built there. Giuseppe Verdi stayed in the hotel and called the grotto “the eighth wonder of the world”.
Today, the Grotta Giusti complex in Monsummano Terme is a 5* luxurious spa resort with warm mineral waters. Its main “highlight” is the natural thermal cave, which consists of three halls named after Dante’s “Divine Comedy”: “Hell”, where air humidity reaches almost 100%, “Purgatory” with the beautiful Lake Limb with constantly warm water with the temperature of +36 °C and “Paradise”. The undiscovered natural mechanism in the cave provides efficient airflow, which makes staying there pleasant despite the highest humidity. During an ordinary 50-minute treatment session in the cave mineral water and its evaporations contribute to detoxification of the organism, recovery of lungs and bronchi and stress relief. Spa guests are also offered additional treatment: intake of mineral water, massage, mud wraps, lymph drainage, ozone baths, aromatherapy, etc.
The spa centre also has a 750 square metre outdoor swimming pool with a waterfall and hydromassage. The building of an old 19th century hotel now houses the five-star Grotta Giusti Resort Golf & Spa 5* – booking.com, a part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World chain. It has a business centre and conference rooms for private meetings.
The hotel has 58 double rooms and 6 suites, some rooms are supplied with thermal water in their bathrooms. The La Veranda Restaurant serves Italian and Tuscan cuisine, complemented by a low-calorie menu. The Montecatini Golf Club with its 18-hole La Vecchia Pevaccia course is 3 kilometres from the spa hotel.