Montecatini Terme Travel Guide   by Giuseppe Longo
 

Montecatini is one of Europe's leading spas, it is in northwestern Tuscany (30K east of Lucca) and is a wealthy and popular watering-hole lying at the foot of the Pistoian mountains. The baths and spas date back to the fourteenth century and nowadays there are nine fully-functioning “terme” spread around the town.

Arrival 

Plane 

The nearest airport's are “Galilei” Airport of Pisa (62 Km) or “A. Vespucci” Airport of Florence (41 Km). From Pisa Airport by car it takes 30 minutes Highway Genova-Livorno (A10) towards Genova and Motorway (A11) FI-mare towards Florence. By train: Pisa - Lucca and Lucca - Montecatini Terme. By car from Florence airport take motorway (A11) FI-mare towards Pisa. By train: Florence - Prato - Pistoia - Montecatini Terme

Train 

To get the train to Montecatini first you will need to go to Florence. Florence is an important railway hub. So getting to Florence is very easy from any Italian city from the city's main train station, Stazione di Santa Maria Novella. From here you get the train to Montecatini Terme.

Car 

The main motorway (A1) connects Florence with Bologna and Milano in the North and Rome and Naples in the South. Take the(A1) towards Florence then Highway A11 Firenze-Mare, exit at Montecatini Terme.

History and Culture 

The healing power of the springs of Montecatini appears to have been recognized in ancient times, for the Terme Leopoldine have yielded Roman figurines which have been interpreted as votive offerings. In his book on Italian spas (1417) the 15th century doctor Ugolino Simoni mentions Montecatini, referring to three bathing establishments which were then in existence. Under the Médici, who added Montecatini to their private estates in 1583, the importance of the spa declined, and it began to recover only in the latter part of the 18th century Grand Duke Leopold I (later Emperor Leopold II) was mainly responsible for the modernization of the town and the construction of the various establishments - the Stabilimento Regina, the Terme Leopoldine, the Stabilimento Tettuccio, the Palazzina Regia. The development of the spa continued when it became the property of the Benedictines of the Badía di Firenze. Montecatini is now the largest spa in Italy; its waters are recommended particularly for the treatment of disorders of the liver and gall bladder and diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Thermal Baths 

Montecatini Terme it is undoubtedly one of the more important thermal centers of Europe. Elegant, peaceful and relaxing, they make for perfect resting places. Enjoy a glass of enriched water, or take the plunge for the full treatment ... you'll be in illustrious company. Previous visitors include Rossini, Verdi, Princess Grace, Orson Welles, Clark Gable, Douglas Fairbanks and assorted European royalty.

In addition to experiencing the beneficial properties of the water and mud-baths, the architecture of the buildings offers an important and suggestive example of the Liberty style that characterizes the city.

Terme Leopoldine, built during the second half of the 18th century, transformed and enlarged in 1926. Located next the Leopoldine is another modern establishment, “Grocco”, equipped with thermal pools. The “Tamerici” surrounded by a large park with interiors decorated by Galileo Chini; the 19th century "Terme Torretta" enriched in 1904 by a suggestive portico in Neo Renaissance style, and the Excelsior, built in the beginning of the 20th century, this was last enlarged and reconstructed toward the end of the 60's and today hosts the new “Centro Benessere” (health center) where along with the traditional cures (idropinica, mud-bath, balneoterapia, idromassaggi) one can enjoy the services offered by the beauty farm. Among all of the thermal structures however the “Tettuccio” stands out representing an authentic symbol of Montecatini, built in the age of Grand-ducal and reconstructed in 1925 by the Architect Giovanozzi who wanted to create a thermal city immersed in green.

Places of Interest 

Montecatini Alto 

About 260m above the thermal bath, on the top of a hill, is the old-world village of Montecatini Val di Nievole (usually called Montecatini Alto). Montecatini Alto is the original Montecatini settlement, lying a few hundred metres above the new town. The views from here are splendid, and the delightful Piazza Giusti is home to some good bars and restaurants. It can be reached either by funicular from Montecatini Terme or by road.

Piazza del Popolo 

The central feature of the town is the Piazza del Popolo with the Neo-Classical church of Santa Maria Assunta; a little way northwest is the Kursaal. The wide Viale Verdi runs northeast from the Piazza del Popolo to the spa center. At the edge of the large spa park are several thermal baths - to the left the Stabilimento Excelsior, built in 1915 and enlarged in 1968, the Terme Leopoldine (1775; rebuilt 1927) and the Stabilimento Tamerici; at the end of the street is the Stabilimento Tettucio (1927), a large building with fine colonnades. In Viale A. Diaz, opposite the Stabilimento Regina, is the Accademia d'Arte, with a small museum. Northwest of the Stabilimento Tettucio are the smaller houses, the Torrettas and the Rinfresco. At the northeast corner of the spa park is the lower station of the cableway up to Montecatini Alto.

Grotta Maona

On the road from Montecatini Terme to the old town is the entrance to the Grotta Maona, a stalactitic cave discovered in the 19th century. There are only scanty remains of the old Castle of Montecatini Alto. The Church of San Pietro, originally Romanesque, was remodeled in the Baroque style; adjoining the church is a small museum of sacred art.

Buggiano Castello 

On the road from Montecatini Terme to Pescia is the village of Borgo a Buggiano, from which a side road leads up to the old walled village of Buggiano Castello (1.5km). Its most notable building is the 13th century Palazzo Pretorio, its facade covered with 15th and 16th century coats of arms. In the small square stands the Romanesque parish church, originally built in 1038 for a Benedictine abbey and later partly rebuilt. The aisles are separated from the nave by columns with antique capitals (on the right) and pillars (on the left); fine marble sculpture and wall-paintings.

Parco di Pinocchio 

Northwest of Montecatini Terme, near the village of Collodi, is the Parco di Pinocchio. Between a fairytale park and playgrounds can be found a monument to Pinocchio. The adventures of the famous character, created by the Florence-born writer Carlo Collodi (originally Carlo Lorenzini) who grew up in Collodi, are known all over the world.

Events

Some of the most important appointments of the artistic and cultural life of Montecatini Terme take place between June and September, among these it is the Summer Regina, a review of concerts prizes and tied up events to the world of the classical music and a Fall of Events, in which concerts, theatrical shows, works and shows of dance are alternated. 
 
 

About the Author:

Giuseppe Longo