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The italian spas
Spas. There is something deep and ancestral about them:
water, earth, fire... echoes of the beginnings of civilization, heat, and
color. They remind us of a time way back in history and, as in a circle
connecting the past to the future, they are today seen as a very modem way
to achieve good health
 and physical well-being. In Italy, staying at spa
resorts is reminding us of those populations which made the Italian
peninsula great in centuries gone by, discovered the benefits that
spa-waters can give to the human body long ago. They learned to use their
healing properties. Thus in Italy from the Alps to the sea, a never-ending
chain of spa resorts emerged, where the ancient therapeutic powers of the
waters join forces with new demands for wellbeing, against backdrops that
have no equal in the world - from the silence of Alpine peaks to the
explosion of colors on the coasts and the islands, among myriad towns and
villages that tell of the history, the art and the traditions of Italy.
The Italian spas: an extraordinary world where a new concept of healthy
happy living takes shape, in the subtle, almost magical balance between
the perfect functioning of the body and the serene clarity of the mind, in
landscapes where living and breathing are a pleasure, and where leisure,
sport and culture, enthusiasm and enjoyment blend in harmony to bring a
new flavor to each new day.
From the
Alps to the sea
the rhythm of the
north-west
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Imagine looking down over the part of Italy that is
surrounded by the grandeur of the Alps and faces downwards towards the
wide expanse of the sea: Piemonte stretching out between the white
mountains, the brown hills and the farmland on the plain; Valle D'Aosta
dazzled by the splendor of the Alpine peaks, Lombardia with its lakes and
cities, and Liguria, both gentle and harsh. You might see a seething mass
of men and women, roads, airports, railways, many gathering of people,
thousands of opportunities. If it were music, this area would be a lively,
syncopated rhythm. It is an area that includes some traditional and very
well-known spa resorts: from Acqui to San Pellegrino, from Sirmione to
Salice, and from Bormio to Saint-Vincent and Pigna. A stay at one of these
spa-resorts can be combined with shopping in the big cities such as
Milan. Turin, or Genoa, with cultural events, major
exhibitions, and theatre-performances. Thanks to one of the world's most
efficient networks of transport links, the spas in this part of
Italy make an ideal destination for those who see physical
well-being as a mixture of relaxation and intelligent enjoyment.
VALLE D'AOSTA
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This is a region that is particularly popular with tourists
from all over the world, where you can find a very beautiful and majestic
choice of mountains in
Europe; there are
plenty of opportunities here for experiencing wonderful holidays at
spa-resorts. The best-known resort is Saint-Vincent, a traditional holiday
destination in both winter and summer; it is also famous for its casino,
as well as for the many artistic and historical treasures to be found
there. Just a few minutes away, to the east, there is a spring pouring out
waters which are particularly rich in valuable minerals, bicarbonates and sulphates. It was discovered in 1770 by an abbot and naturalist called
Perret, and this water immediately became famous for its therapeutic
properties, particularly recommended for treating stomach, liver and
intestinal illnesses. (Info: A.I.A.T.. via Roma 62,11027 Saint-Vincent
tel. 0166 512239 - 0166 513149; fax 0166 511335).
www.regione.vda.it
PIEMONTE
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Piemonte
has for centuries been a land rich in water: rivers, mountain-torrents and
waterfalls abound in the alpine valleys, lakes, both large and small, are
a feature of its hills, and there is plenty of water on the plain, too. It
comes as no surprise, therefore, that there are large numbers of
spa-resorts in practically every province of Piemonte Spas are to be found
particularity in the Cuneo area, and among the most famous are
Bagni di
Vinadio along the main road towards the Tenda
 Pass,
Terme di Lumia in the
Mondovì valley, Terme di Valdieri in the Borgo San Dalmazio area, south of
Cuneo, Garessio, in the upper Tanaro valley and
Vicoforte, the site of a
sanctuary well known for its elliptical dome - the largest in the world
(Info: I.A.T., piazza Boves, 12100 Cuneo, telefax 0171 693258). Two
"historic" locations for spa holidays in
Piemonte are situated at the northern edge of the region, a few
kilometers from the Swiss border in Verbania province. These are
Bognanco,
in a green valley set deep in chestnut groves (Info: I.A.T., piazza
Giannini 2, 28842 Bognanco, tel.-fax 0324 234127) and
Crodo, along the
road leading up from Domodossola towards the Simplon pass (Info: IAT.,
Località Bagni,
28862 Crodo, tel.-fax 0324 618831). In Asti
province in the southern Monferrato area, there is
Agliano Terme, a small
town in the centre of an important wine growing area (Info: A.T.L piazza
Alfieri 29,14100 Asti, tel. 0141 530357, fax 0141 538200), while in the
province of Turin, at Castagneto Po, there is a spa centre now being
opened. The most popular spa resort in the whole of Piemonte is
Acqui
Terme - located in the part of the region around
Alessandria, near towns such as Valenza (famous above all for its
craftwork in gold) and Castelletto d'Orba. Acqui is the main town in the
southern Monferrato, and is the central point of a real paradise for
lovers of wonderful Piedmontese food and wine. It offers some impressive
sights and historical monu ments but its fame has always rested on its
healing spa-waters. The therapeutic properties of its waters were already
well-known to the Romans, who founded the spa resort. These are salso-bromo-iodic waters, which, along with the features of the mud, are
recommended for treating rheumatic, respiratory and articulation
disorders, not forgetting its use as a medical and beauty treatment for
face and body. There are numerous springs, ranging from tepid to hot, and
the main one is surety the fountain in Piazza della Bollente, which has a
temperature of 75 °C and an output of 560 liters per minute. Other springs
can be found in the part of the city known as "Bagni", beyond the Bomida
river. The Acqui area offers tourists the chance to encounter its famous
cuisine, which is to be appreciated especially in autumn, when mushrooms
and truffles abound, and is enhanced by the much prized wines from the
hills (Info: IAI, via Ferraris 5,15011 Acqui Terme, tel. 0144 322142, fax
0144 329054; Ufficio Turismo del Comune di Acqui, tel. 0144
770240).
www.piemonteweb.it
LIGURIA
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Liguria is
famous throughout the world for its sea, which satisfies all tastes with
the beaches along its coastline -sometimes sandy, sometimes pebbly, and
sometimes rocky. The sea here is clean and transparent, welcoming and
hospitable. Looking inland from this splendid coast, full of history and
evocations of the past, there is the wonderful sight of the hinterland
stretching out; you see it packed with the luxuriant beauties of nature -
the intense, deep-green of the Alps and
Apennines with the
traditions and marvels of myriad villages exuding beauty right down to
their very roots. Along with the limitless beauties of the sea and the
numerous wonders of the hinterland,
Liguria also offers tourists from all over the world the chance to
combine a personalized healthcare and wellbeing program. First of all, it
offers the benefits of the sea air and water, applied in what is known as
thalassotherapy - a health cure that has been recognized since ancient
times. But there are also more modem treatment to be found in
Liguria,
from beauty farms to wellness centre, which nave gradually come into being
in the majority of seaside resorts on the Eastem and Western rivieras.
However, one place that has been modeled on the typical pattern of the
spa-resort is Pigna, just behind Ventimiglia in the upper Nervia valley in
the Imperia province; this is an ideal place to regain one's state of
well-being and treat oneself to a healthy, relaxing holiday. {Info: IAT-,
via Cavour 61,18039 Ventimiglia, tel.-f ax 0184
351183).
www.turismo.liguriainrete.it
LOMBARDIA
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Lombardia
has lots of spa resorts of a very high standard, scattered all over the
area, from the north to the south. On the western edge of the region, we
come at Bormio, in a valley surrounded by the peaks of the Alps and the
Stelvio
National
Park, in the upper
Valtellina. It is popular as a ski resort (there are dozens of pistes
equipped with modem ski-lifts, and you can do summer skiing on the Stelvio
glacier), an ever-popular tourist resort. It has been awarded the chance
to stage the alpine skiing world championships in 2005. However, Bormio is
also one of the most important and popular spa-centers in
 Lombardia. The
medicinal properties of its waters have been acknowledged for centuries;
they belong to the category of
sulphate-bicarbonate-alkaline-earthy-radioactive waters and are suitable
for treating various health disorders: respiratory problems, ear, nose and
throat disorders, illnesses of the digestive tract, locomotive organs
disorders, skin disorders, gynecological problems and circulatory
problems. The Bormio spa complex also offers users a large number of
programs for wellbeing and beauty treatments. There's plenty of
opportunity for sport in your free time: in winter, on the splendid ski
slopes and in summer. with golf, tennis and walking, in a resort with
first class tourist facilities (Info: I.A.T., via Roma 131b, 23032 Bormio,
tel. 0342 903300, fax 0342 904696). West of Sondrio, at the top of the
Valmasino, a charming little lateral valley in the Valtellina, there is
another beautiful spa resort set deep in wonderful surroundings of quiet
unpolluted countryside. This is Bagni del Masino: its reputation has
remained unchanged for centuries, testifying to the effectiveness of the
Masino spa-waters in curing illnesses of the digestive tract, the kidneys
and the urinary tract, as well as treating
 skin problems and gynaecological problems (Info: A.P.T., via Trieste 12,23100 Sondrio, tel.
0342 512500). Brescia province, with
its wide valleys and the Lombard shore of
Lake
Garda, has lots of
spa-resorts. Angolo Terme, in the green Scalve valley, is a holiday and
treatment centre and it has a very mild climate - airy in summer and
sheltered from cold winds in winter. The waters of Angolo are recommended
for disorders of the digestive tract and gastric problems, for the liver,
bile duets and urinary tract as welt as for some metabolism disorders. The
respiratory system is treated with inhalation treatment and mud packs are
used to treat locomotive disorders (Info: Pro Loco, piazza degli Alpini 2,
25040 Angolo Terme, tel. 0364 548661). Just a few kilometers from Angolo,
where the Scalve valley comes out into the lower Valcamonica, there is
Dario Boario Terme. This resort is famous in Italy and in Europe for the
effectiveness of its spa and mineral waters, and for its buildings which
hark back to the ancient settlements of that mysterious Alpine population
known as the Camuni (the National Park of Rock engravings at Capodiponte
is around 20 km from Boario). It is splendidly positioned in a framework
of wide stretches of woodland crossed by the Oglio river, and offers a
large number of possibilities for outdoor leisure, culture and
entertainment, it has been well-known since the 16th century as a tourist
and health resort, and it was famous beyond regional and national borders
as early as the middle of the 19th century. Its sporting facilities are
modem and well-equipped, and it has interesting cultural programs and
initiatives for events and entertainment. It is the spa-waters, however,
which are Boario's real treasure. They pour out from four different
springs and are classified as sulphate-calcium. For a long time, the
Boario Spa has been recommended as an excellent t reatment centre for liver
and bile-duct disorders, gastric problems, diverticulosis, stipsis,
calculosis of the urinary tract and gout. There is also a wide range of
beauty treatments and relaxation and wellness programs (Info: I.A.T.,
piazza Einaudi 2, 25047 Darfo Boario Terme, tel. 0364 531609. fax 0364
532280). On the southern
shore of
Lake
Garda, still in the
Brescia
area, there is another resort of great international fame and great
tourist appeal: this is Sirmione. It is located on a narrow isthmus of
four kilometers, dividing the
gulf of
Desenzano from that of Peschiera. Sirmione is fortunate in having a
beautiful, natural setting, and this made it a popular place to settle
right back in ancient times, It was, in fact, frequented by Roman
patricians who built splendid villas there, and you can see interesting
archaeological remains of these today. Sirmione's activity as a spa town
dates back for many centuries: the existence of a source with therapeutic
properties was discovered in the 16* century, but the real boom in spa
activity came at the end of the nineteenth century, when they succeeded
in channeling the waters of the most important spring -the Boiola. The
Sirmione water is popular because of its special curative properties: it
is particularly rich in sulphur, bromide and iodine - elements that
perform an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial action. For leisure,
Sirmione offers the tourist all that he can possibly want in the area of
tourist and sports facilities: golf, tennis, yachting, cycle-touring, and
sailing on the lake. And there is also entertainment for the children in
the nearby Gardaland amusement park, as well as the possibility of a real
journey back in time, with a visit to the
Catullo
Caves
archaeological area. (Info: I.A.T., viale Marconi 2, 25019 Sirmione, tel.
030 916114, fax 030 916222). Still in the
Brescia province,
there are the little resorts of Ome, in Franciacorta,
just a few kilometers
from Brescia itself, and
Vallio Terme, also in the
Brescia area. Other spa resorts of significance are to be found in
the
 Bergamo province:
Gaverina Terme in Val Cavallina,
Sant'Omobono Imagna, between
Bergamo and
Lecco,
San
Pellegrino Terme and Trescore Balneario. San Pellegrino Terme, in the
Brembana valley, has had its history shaped, in the true sense of the
word, by spa tourism. Its springs have been well-known since the 13th
century and have always attracted visitors, ever since ancient times, when
hordes of people went there, especially from Venice, to "take the waters".
The first thermal baths, which started the modem development of the
holiday resort, were built in 1840, but a great transformation took
place at the beginning of the 20th century, giving the town its present
elegant, high-class appearance characterized by its unmistakable Liberty
style (the Grand Hotel, the Palazzo della Fonte and the Casino). The San
Pellegrino spring waters are particularly effective in treating uricemia
and renal calculosis, stomach and intestinal disorders, and they are also
useful in therapy for chronic locomotive organs problems, for me
respiratory tract and gynecological problems (Info: I.A.T., viale Papa
Giovanni XXII118,24016 San Pellegrino Terme, tel. 0345 21020, fax 0345
23344). Trescore Balneario is situated in Val Cavallina, which one passes
through to get from
Bergamo to
the Iseo lake and the Valcamonica. It is both a summer and a winter
tourist resort, located in a panoramic position with a mild climate that
is much appreciated: the spas are, in fact, what draws the tourists to
this resort, and go back to very ancient times. The Trescore waters were
known about in the Middle Ages, and the very first spa-centre was divided
into two distinct parts, which were then linked up. Accounts tell us that
it was Bartolomeo Colleoni, a condottiero in the
Venetian army, who rebuilt the baths in the fifteenth century and these
were then enlarged in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The waters
of the Trescore Balneario springs are some of the richest in
Italy in hydrogen sulphide. For this reason, they are also
particularly recommended for the treatment and prevention of illnesses of
the respiratory tract, of the ear and of the first airways. Specific
treatments are also carried out for osteoarticular, skin and female
genital problems (Info: A.P.T. Bergamo, viale Vittorio Emanuele Il 20,
24121
Bergamo,
tel. 035 13185, fax 035 230184). There are some very important spa resorts
also in the more southern part of Lombardia, and in particular in
Pavia
province, where one can enjoy a healthy holiday between the green
countryside of the Po Plain and the beginning of the upland area.
Salice
Terme is one of these: its healing properties were recognized and
appreciated by the Romans, and it is a spa resort par excellence, which
has existed for centuries, and where the waters were scientifically
acknowledged back in the middle of the 19th century. Salice Terme is one of
the historic spa-resorts in Italy and one of the most modem in terms of
the facilities and services it offers. The town welcomes tourists with its
quiet tree-lined streets and its buildings that blend in with the natural
environment, and its baths are situated right next to an age-old park
(160,000 square meters). The Salice waters are very rich in active mineral
ingredients with excellent healing properties. Beauty treatments and
relaxation and wellbeing programs are also provided (Info: I.A.T., via
Marconi 20,27056 Salice Terme, tel. 0383 91207, fax 0383 944540). Another
resort in the
Pavia area
is Rivanazzano, at the lower end of the Staffora valley, just a few
kilometers from Salice. This area to the south of the
Po
river is called the Oltrepò and is famous for its wines: back in the
nineteenth century, it was known as "Milan'swine-cellar" and it has today
become a wine growing region of great significance in the top category of
Italian wine production. The spa waters in the resort of Rivanazzano,
known ever since ancient times, started to be exploited at the end of the
nineteenth century. They are recommended for disorders of the respiratory
tract, and arthro-rheumatic, dermatological and gynecological complaints.
The
Rivanazzano Spa specialises in treating rhinogenous deafness (Info:
A.P.T., via Filzi 2,27100 Pavia, tei. 0382 22156, fax 0382 32221).
Still in the
Pavia province, there is Miradolo Terme. Miracolo is a small but
well-known spa resort set amongst vineyards and hazel groves, in an area
studded with villas and castles. Its waters are rich in magnesium and are
especially suitable for treating disorders of the digestive tract (Info:
A.P.T., via Filzi 2,27100
Pavia, tel. 0382 22156, fax 0382 32221). Finally, mention must be
made of the San Colombano al Lambro spa resort, in the
Milan
province.
www.termedilombardia.it
The charm of Venice and the roots of Mitteleuropa
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A
piece of Central Europe, the incomparable scenery of the Dolomites... and
Venice. A
stay at the spa towns of
North-east Italy is
like a dream come true. There are famous spa resorts such as Abano,
Cornano, Recoaro, Levico, Aita Terme, Ugnano and Merano (offering the
excellent therapeutic properties of their waters and wide-ranging programs
for fitness and relaxation) and an infinite number of things to do and
sec: the spectacle of the Trentino and Alto Adige mountains, an evening
with Verdi or Puccini at the Arena in Verona, a tour around the villas of
the Veneto, a romantic gondola ride in Venice, the best-loved city in the
world, with the memories of its glorious past making plays of light and
shade through its narrow lanes and little squares and casting a golden
reflection over the sea as it winds among the bright, shining palaces. You
can listen to echoes of great European culture, from Joyce to Svevo, take
a walk around old
Trieste, in the Friuli
region -
Italy's gateway to the East. If physical fitness also means
eating good food, the north-east of
Italy is sure to surprise you with the inventions of its age-old
cuisine and its amazing wines, to be found in hundreds of towns and
villages from the mountains to the
Adriatic sea.
Veneto
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The
"new frontier" of Italian development runs through here, the north-east,
and through the
Veneto
region in particular. An intense economic movement, which includes the
development of the tourist industry. This industry is an integral part of
the network of spa resorts and visitors come in search of good health to the
several large resorts in
Veneto. Abano Terme, in the
Padua province, is
considered one of the major spa-resorts in
Europe. The town has dozens of facilities and welcomes 250,000
guests a nnually. What attracts such a great number of tourists here is the
almost unique feature of the therapeutic components for which the town is
famous: mud and spa-water. The healing springs have been well-known and
exploited since Roman times and originate in the rainy precipitation on
the Lessini mountains above
Verona. During its long passage underground, the water is enriched
with dozens of different mineral salts and its temperature increases to as
high as 80-90 °C. The chemical composition of the waters is fundamental at
the moment when they are added to the mud to produce a very unusual
vegetable and animal microflora. At this point,
the mud is ready to carry out its therapeutic action in treating rheumatic
illnesses, osteoarthritis, pains in the joints, the after-effects of
injuries and fractures, as well as in problems of the respiratory tract
which the water, sprayed from an aerosol or inhaled, can help to combat. A
visit to
Padua,
only 11 kilometers away, is not to be missed (Info: A.P.T.. via Pietro
d'Abano 18,35031 Abano Terme, tel. 049 8669055, fax 049 8669053). In the
same area, near Abano with good road network and Transportation links, is
Montegrotto Terme. Here too, the cures are based on the use of the waters
and the mud. The mud is taken from the Colli Euganei area, and is allowed
to mature in special vats where it stays in contact with the spa water
until the process is finished. The effectiveness of treating rheumatic
illnesses with hot baths and mud has been confirmed scientifically on the
basis of careful clinical research. Montegrotto also has excellent
f acilities for sport and leisure, along with cultural and artistic
attractions (Info: I.A.T., viale Stazione 60,35036 Montegrotto Terme, tel.
049 793384, fax 049 8669053). Other places worthy of note, still in the
Colli Euganei area, are Battaglia Terme, another resort that is well-known
for mud treatments for locomotive disorders (Info: I AT., viale Stazione
60,35036 Montegrotto Terme tel. 049 793384, fax 049 8669053),
Bibione,
which, together with mud-treatments, also offers the benefits of a coastal
climate and an unforgettable holiday thanks to its well-equipped beaches,
with their long tradition of hospitality (Info: A.P.T., via Maja 37,30020
Bibione, tel. 0431 442111, fax 0431 439997), and Recoaro, in the Vicenza
area - famous for its mineral waters that are especially useful for
treating liver, bile-duct and digestive tract complaints. The aristocracy
and the middle classes came to this resort to "take the waters" right
back in the nineteenth century (Info: I.A.T., via Roma 25,36076 Recoaro
Terme, tel. 0445 75070, fax 0445 75158).
Other
spa-resorts are Calalzo di Cadore, Galzignano, Jesolo, Lazise and
Salzano.
www.veneto.to
Trentino-Alto
Adige
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Good health and fitness are also to be found in the Italian
spas located among the wonderful peaks of the Trentino Alto Adige Alps
- and these spas have absolutely unique features. The town of
Merano, for instance,
is like a Mediterranean island in the heart of the
Alps.
Temperatures in winter rarely drop below zero; the valley is very sunny,
mere is very little rain, little wind and it is hardly ever foggy. In
summer, the large numbers of green areas offer relief during the hottest
days. The environment is ideal to spend a restful holiday getting into
good physical shape, looking after oneself and one's health. The most
famous Italian "health farms" are situated in Merano and its surrounding
area. The spa centre was constructed in 1907 (it is today being enlarged
and restored on extremity modem fines): at the outbreak of the first world
war, the Liberty-style building brought Merano considerable fame in the
Austro-Hungarian empire as an important centre for treatment. The Merano
waters are cold and oligomineral, radioactive and fluorinated, and have
excellent healing properties for arthro-rheumatic disorders, chronic
inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, gynecological problems
and chronic vein disorders (Info: A.P.T., corso Libertà 35,39012 Merano,
tel. 0473 25223). Another major spa in the Trentino region is to be found
in the delightful Valsugana area: this is Levico-Vetriolo. This spa has a
valuable, natural ally in its famous arsenical-ferruginous waters whose
beneficial properties were recognized way back in the 16th century; they
are unique in Europe because of
their high concentration of iron and arsenic salts and provide an
effective cure for anxiety, stress and nervous diseases. The Levico and
Vetriolo waters are also recommended for disorders of the respiratory
tract rheumatism, thyroid and gynecological problems, blood and skin
complaints. Apart from baths, mud-baths, irrigations, inhalation
treatments and physiotherapy, the resort offers shiatsu massage and
innovative programs aimed at recovering vital energy and psychophysical
well-being. The two resorts are located at different altitudes; Levico at
around 500 meters, and Vetriolo at 1500 meters (Info: A.P.T., viale
Vittorio Emanuele 3,38056 Levico Terme, tel. 0461 706101, fax 0461
706004). Just a short distance from Trento, in a climate not unlike that
of the Dolomite resorts, treatments at Cornano Terme are devoted mainly to
curing skin and respiratory tract diseases, exploiting the
bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium content of the water (Info: A.P.T., via
Battisti 38d, 38077 Ponte Arche, tel. 0465 702626, fax 0465 702281), while
at Pejo, in the
 Val di Sole, the therapeutic properties of the ferruginous
and highly carbonic mineral water have an excellent effect on anemia and
gastro-enteric diseases, and are combined with some interesting programs
for fitness and relaxing holidays.
(Info;
I AT., via delle Acque Acidule 8. 38020 Pejo. tel. 0463 3753100, fax 0463
753180).
In the Stelvio National
Park, there is Bagni di Rabbi, whose bicarbonate-alkaline waters, used in
the eighteenth century by the Empress Maria of Austria, are recommended
for treating disorders of the circulatory tract and osteo-articular and
muscular problems. Also worthy of note are the
resorts of Fiè allo Sciliar,
Garniga Terme and
Roncegno.
www.trentino.to
-
www.hallo.com
Friuli-Venezia
Giulia
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Friuli-Venezia
Giulia is
a land of contrasts - a region belonging to
Central Europe and a cosmopolitan area, a crossroads of different races
and cultures. Friuli is the furthest strip of
Italy stretching out towards the East, and a bridge between
Europe and the
Balkans, and it is a composite region also from the morphological point of
view. Going just a few kilometers over the regional border, we come to the
northem part of the
Adriatic, with
well-equipped beaches and charming c orners, towns, hills and Alpine peaks.
From the mountains to the sea, from west to east. the distances, as the
crow fillies, are less than a hundred kilometers and a modem motorway
network enable them to be covered easily. In this restricted space,
Friuli-Venezia Giulia contains a great variety of environments,
landscapes, history, art and culture, which come together to form a
diverse, many-sided and complex whole. It is a region that offers myriad
opportunities for the tourist, for holidays or for a period of treatment
or relaxation. The best-known spa resort in
Friuli-Venezia
Giulia is
Arta Terme, in the
Udine province, in the
heart of the
Lamia
region. This centre is made up of eight villages, where there is a source
of sulphurous water, particularly useful for treating respiratory and skin
problems (Info: A.P.T.. via Umberto 115,33022 Arto Terme, tel. 0433
929290, fax 0433 92104). The baths at Grado (Info: A.P.T., viale Dante 72,
34073 Grado, tel. 0431 8991, fax 0431 899278) and
Lignano Sabbiadoro (Info:
A.P.T., via Latisana 42,33054 UgnanoSabbiadoro, tel. 0431 71821, fax 0431
70449) are of a completely different kind; these are well-known spa
centers on the Adriatic coast, where they carry out thalassotherapy
(sea-water bathing) and sand-baths, recommended for locomotive illnesses
or the after-effects of injury. Therapeutic treatments are here fitted
into very charming holiday surroundings, on the edge of beautiful lagoons
and in an area which has splendid facilities for welcoming
tourists.
www.regione.fvg.it
The heart of Italy, throbbing with history
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The
great history of the Roman empire and the Renaissance is a remarkable
journey that has left evidence of a civilization without equal in the
world: ancient and Christian
Rome,
Florence.
Toscana and
Umbria,
repositories of works of art. Here is a feast for the eyes and the heart,
a few kilometers from the plains of the Emilia Romagna region, from the hills and
mountains of the Marche, Abruzzo and Molise, and from the beaches to the
east and west along the Adriatic (with the Romagna region) and the
Tyrrhenian coasts, in an area of spas which includes some of the
best-known Italian spa-resorts in the world, such as
Salsomaggiore.Tabiano, Castrocaro, Montecatini, Chianciano and Fiuggi,
along with other centers like Montegrimano, San Gemini and Caramanico. A
holiday in this corner of
Italy offers opportunities for combining spa treatments with
visits to the most famous cities of art in the world, their sights and
museums, their works of history and their artistic masterpieces, and an
infinite number of cultural events and entertainment. Water for the body,
and water for the mind to drink, to achieve truly overall
fitness.
Emilia
Romagna
top
Along a lovely stretch of road cutting through Emilia
Romagna from north-west to south-east we come across one area after
another offering a multitude of spa resorts, which abound in this region.
Starting with
Piacenza
province, there is Bobbio, an ancient town that grew up around the famous
abbey founded in 614 by St. Colombano. The spas here use salso-sulphurous
water with a strong hydrogen-sulphide component, used to treat skin and
respiratory tract diseases and vein disorders. Several significant resorts
are concentrated in the
Parma area. One of the most famous is Salsomaggiore, a settlement
dating bade to the time of the Romans, who were the first to use the
waters, not so much for therapeutic purposes, but to obtain the salt from
it. The town's spa activity originated in the second half of the nineteenth
century when the healing properties of the salso-bromo-iodic waters were
officially recognized ; they are recommended for chronic locomotive,
gynecological, respiratory and peripheral circulation disorders. This new
activity as a spa town gave a great boost to tourism, so that
Salsomaggiore was numbered among the most beautiful and most important
"watering places" in Europe, both for the extraordinary quality of its
waters and the clientele who carne to its hotels. Today, Salsomaggiore is
a spa resort of European renown, elegant and refined, with pump-room
buildings that are the very model for Italian spas such as the famous Berzieri Baths, with their characteristic
Liberty
architecture. Wellbeing of body and mind is guaranteed (Info: IAT., viale
Romagnosi 7,43039 Salsomaggiore Terme, tel. 0524 580211, fax 0524 580219).
Just four kilometers from Salsomaggiore, at Tabiano, a strongly
mineralized, sulphurous-sulphate-calcium-magnesium cold spring gushes art,
with a high content of bicarbonates and a very high content of hydrogen
sulphate. The Tabiano spa officially came into being in 1841 by the
desire of Duchess Marie-Louise of
Austria. She was an expert connoisseur of spa waters, and, because
of her delicate health, she and her family used to go to the most
fashionable watering places. This area of spas is situated in the middle
of the
Parma
countryside, a short distance from Busseto, the birthplace of Giuseppe
Verdi (Info: I.A.T. viale Fidenza 20. 43039 Salsomaggiore Terme, tel. 0524
565482, fax 0524 567533). Going south west down the Apennine ridge of
Toscana
and Emilia, we come to Monticelli. This is an ideal base for visiting the
castles of the
Parma area
- places associated with Verdi and the lands of Matilde di Canossa. The
Monticelli baths are set deep in a large park of conifers, an oasis of
tranquility and well-being. There are two types of springs: salso-bromo-iodic water and sulphurous water. The first spring, with its
strong saline concentration giving it relaxing properties, is used at a
temperature of 36-38 °C for baths, mud-baths, inhalations and aerosol,
irrigations, and in the spa pools with hydro massage. The sulphurous water
is used for inhalations atomizing and for treating rhinogenous deafness
(info: IAT., via delle Terme, 43023 Monticelli Terme, tel.-fax 0521
657519). We leave the province of Parma - but not without mentioning the
spa resort of Sant'Andrea Bagni - and go through the Modena province,
where the resort of Sassuolo is worthy of note, and then come into the
Bologna area. One of the most important spa resorts here is
Bologna
itself. The city is unique in its talent for welcoming visitors to it, a
metropolis of culture and high quality of life
Bologna
today stands out as the rich, modem capital of the Emilia Romagna region.
The discovery of the presence of sulphurous waters goes back to the times
of the Roman emperor Augustus, who had the first thermae built at the foot
of St Luke's hill, on which stands the sanctuary that is the city’s symbol
(Info: IAT-, piazza Maggiore 6,40126 Bologna, tei. 051 239660, fax 051
23454). The two best-known spas in the province, however are
Castel San
Pietro Terme and Porretta Terme, which offer the delights of a spa holiday
at any time of the year. Castel San Pietro is situated little more than
twenty kilometers from
Bologna, along the road to Imola. Its history is linked to an
episode in the fourteenth century when it was the temporary seat of
Bologna
University, which was subject to a papal interdict. It was at this time
that the therapeutic properties of its waters were discovered. Legend has
it that during an epidemic among flocks of livestock, some animals drank
at a local spring and were cured of their infection. The water is used to
treat all chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, as well
as arthro-rheumatic and gynecological disorders. The salso-bromo-iodic
waters are also by far the most recommended for motory rehabilitation
(Info: Pro Loco, piazza XX settembre 3,40024 Castel San Pietro Terme, tel.
051 941247, fax 051 944423). The Porretta spa, 400 meters in altitude in
the Apennines of Toscana-Emilia, where the Rio Maggiore flows into the Reno
river, is one of the most famous in Italy and in Europe, because of the
excellent therapeutic properties of its waters (especially recommended for
the treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of the respiratory tract,
locomotive disorders and the peripheral vascular system), and because of
its charming, natural surroundings and, which are rich in tradition and
culture, and offer delightful holidays (Info: I AI. piazza Libertà
11,40046 Porretta Terme, tel. 0534 22021, fax 0534 424472). There are
plenty of spa resorts in
Romagna, too.
Bagno
di Romagna, for example, situated on the Apennine mountains, is surrounded
by the National Park of the
Casentinese
Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna. You can breathe in the balmy
air, perfumed by the nearby woods and pure like the water that comes down
from here to the Romagna
riviera. The
baths are a small miracle of nature. The meteoric water has been flowing
underground for 450 to 650 years, heated by geothermal effect and picking
up minerals that it obtains from the layers of rock it flows over.
Enriched with the health benefits that these give, the
water is recommended for treating disorders of the upper and lower
respiratory tracts, for rhinogenous deafness, and for urinary tract
locomotive and female gynecological complaints (Info: IAT, via Fiorentina
38,47021 Bagno di Romagna, tel. 0543 911046, fax 0543 911026). Another
resort of significance inland in the Romagna region is
Castrocaro. It was
already well-known in Roman times by the name of Salsubium (i.e. "a place
rich in salt waters") and developed over time around its spa , which is set
in the middle of a park stretching over thirty hectares The sulphurous
waters and the natural, salso-bromo-iodic muds of Castrocaro Terme are
acknowledged all over Europe for their great effectiveness: both waters
and muds are used to treat female sterility, peripheral venous circulation
disorders, arthritic complaints, the after-effects of fractures and
osteo-articular injuries, and respiratory tract and skin disorders (INFO:
IAI, via Garibaldi 1,47011 Castrocaro Terme, tei. 0543 767162, fax 0543
769326). Other beautiful spa resorts that deserve a mention are
Riolo, in
the fascinating countryside of the lower Senio valley, where the baths
also have a centre specializing in treating illnesses of the ear, nose and
throat (Info: I.A.T., via Moro 2, 48025 Riolo Bagni, tel. 0546 71044, fax
0546 71932), Brisighella, in the Lamone river valley, with waters that are
used in inhalation treatments for respiratory tract and middle ear
problems (Info: I.A.T. piazzetta Porta Gabolo 5, 48013 Brisighella, tel.-fax
0546 81166), Fratta Terme in Bertinoro, right in the heart of the Romagna
region (Info: I.A.T. via Loreta 1,47032 Bertinoro, tel. 0543 460828), and
we arrive at the resorts on the Adriatic coast - an area of entertainment
both for young people and families, where holidays and spa cures combine
into a harmonious whole. This is true in Cervia and in
Punta Marina, in
the Ravenna area, very
near the San Vitale pine-forest, in
Rimini, which specializes in sea water, sun and sand therapies,
and in Riccione. This town was popular with the Romans, and then developed
further in the Middle Ages. At the beginning of the twentieth century,
Riccione gained international fame, first of all as a tourist centre, and
then as a spa centre, uniting the joys of the beach with the healing
properties of the sulphurous-bromo-iodic waters that spring from tour
sources situated in a pine forest just a few yards from the sea. Alongside
the actual baths (which supplement the myriad opportunities for fun and
entertainment in an area that is one of the best equipped in the world),
there are highly popular beauty, fitness and relaxation programs in
Riccione (Info: IAT, piazzale Ceccarini 10,47036 Riccione, tel. 0541
693302, fax 0541 605752).
www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it
Toscana
top
It
is in the province of
Siena, in the
corner of
Toscana
between the Chiana and the Orcia valley, that the largest number of spa
resorts in this region is concentrated. One of the best known resorts is
Chianciano, known to Etruscans and rediscovered at the end of the
eighteenth century, when Grand-Duke Peter Leopold of
Toscana
decided to put up large sums of money to build a real thermal baths. The
Chianciano waters spring out of four different sources with different
mineral contents. There are, therefore, various therapeutic applications
for these, although the treatments that have made Chianciano famous
throughout the world are the mineral water cures for liver complaints.
Traditional spa therapies, carried out in wonderful parks rich in
Mediterranean vegetation, are today accompanied by a wide range of beauty
and psycho-physical fitness programs (Info: A.P.T, piazza Italia 67,53042
Chianciano Terme, tei. 0578 63648, fax 0578 63277). At Sant' Albino, just
three kilometers from Chianciano in a setting of enormous interest from
the point of view of culture and landscape, there is the
Montepulciano
spa, which uses the healing properties of water and mud that were
discovered centuries ago. They are particularly recommended for various
respiratory and ear, nose and throat disorders, and problems of the
gynecological nature and the skin (Info: A.P.T. piazza Italia 67,53042
Chianciano Terme, tel. 0578 63648, fax 0578 63277). A little further
south, 20 kilometers from Chiusi and 27 from Chianciano Terme, we come to
San Casciano Bagni, a picturesque town in a panoramic position on the
slopes of the Cetona mountain. San Casciano is situated among woods of oak
and chestnut trees, and the visitor can see all the traces of its medieval
origins. In this charming framework, 42 springs gush out, rich in
sulphate-calcium-magnesium-fluoride mineral salts, which began to be
exploited right back in the Middle Ages for therapeutic purposes. Today,
you can have a holiday here and keep fit with the mud-treatments available
for rheumatic and articulation problems, and the therapies for the
respiratory tract and for dermatological! problems. Disorders of the
urinary and digestive tracts are also treated (Info: A.P.T., piazza Italia
67, 53042 Chianciano Terme, tel. 0578 63648, fax 0578 63277). Other
important resorts in this area are Bagno Vignoni, an age-old town on a
plateau 300 meters up, very popular in ancient times and then again in the
Middle Ages and the Renaissance as a hearth resort, frequented by
historical figures such as Saint Catherine of
Siena and
Lorenzo the Magnificent; there are also Bagni di Petriolo,
Bagni San
Filippo, Radicondoli,
Rapolano Terme and
Sarteano. These are not all that
Toscana has to offer for spa holidays, however. We should, first of all,
remember Montecatini Terme, 15 kilometers from
Pistoia,
one of the European spa capitals, with its spa area covering 460,000
square meters and its seven treatment baths. The beneficial properties of
the Mont ecatini spa waters have been sought-after since ancient times;
they received official acknowledgement at the beginning of the fifteenth
century and became popular at the time of Grand Duke Leopold I. The spa
waters come from a layer of water located at a depth of 60-80 meters.
During its journey to the surface, it picks up mineral salts and emerges
on the surface bacteriologically pure; it can therefore be used without
any treatment. Its therapeutic applications are very wide: the main therapy
consists of actually drinking the waters, but mud therapy, balneotherapy.
hydromassage, physiokinesitherapy in a thermal pool and rehabilitation
therapy are also carried out. In addition, the Montecatini waters are used
for beauty treatment for the body and for general psychophysical
well-being (Info: Terme di Montecatini, viale Verdi 66, 51016 Montecatini
Terme, tel. 0572 772244, fax 0572 70109). Among the other Toscana's spa
resorts, Artagnana,
Equi Terme, Massa and
Montagnoso are worth a mention. They are located in the
Massa Carrara province, in the middle of the area of Versilia - an area
sheltered by the Apuan Alps. They combine the therapeutic properties of
the water, recommended especially for problems of arthrosis and
rheumatìsm, with the typical possibilities for bathing in the nearby
beaches on the Tyrrhenian coast (Info: A.P.T., via
del
Freo,
54030 Cinquale, tel. 0585 808751). The sea in
Toscana is an
attraction that is difficult to resist Versilia is the best-known stretch
of coastline with its 20 kilometers of beaches and its top-class events
(from the Carnival in
Viareggio
to the Puccini Opera Festival at Torre del Lago). In the Livorno area,
apart from Venturina, we should mention the spa at
Portoferraio, on the
island of Elba, well-known for the use of a sea mud with features very
similar to those of the Black Sea, applied together with seaweed and sea
water in special therapies for rheumatic disorders (Info: A.P.T., Calata
Italia 26, 57037 Portoferraio, tel. 0565 914671, fax 0565 916350). In
Pisa
province, there is a delightful resort famous for its spa-tourism:
Casciana Terme, highly recommended for illnesses of the
cardio-circulatory system, of the lower limbs and diseases of the
arteries (Info: Pro Loco, piazza Garibaldi 9,56034 Casciana Terme, tel.
0587 644608). In the
Pistoia
province, there is the resort of Monsummano Terme, in Valdinievole, famous
for its spa treatment in caves, particularly recommended for disorders of
the respiratory and osteoarticular systems (Info: A.P.T., viale Verdi
66,51016 Montecatini Terme, tel. 0572 772244, fax 0572 70109). In the
Grosseto province, in
Southern Toscana, we come to Saturnia, a spa
resort situated in a splendid natural setting in the middle of the
Grosseto Maremma area. With its sulphurous waters, this spa specializes in
treating respiratory illnesses (Info: Consorzio l'Altra Maremma, piazza
Vittorio
Veneto
8,58050 Saturnia, tel. 0564 601280, fax 0564 601257). To complete the
panorama, there are the resorts of Gambassi and
Impruneta in the area
around Florence,
Stia in the
Arezzo province,
San Giuliano Terme in the
Pisa area and
Bagni di
Lucca in the
province of
Lucca.
www.regione.toscana.it
Marche
top
The
Marche are at the heart of the Italian Adriatic coast. This seashore
extends for 180 kilometers from the headland at Gabicce Mare to the Tronto
estuary, with enchanting scenery and resorts rich in attractions for
holiday-makers. The land of the
Marche can offer an infinite variety of possibilities for an
unforgettable holiday, which may be spent following the paths of its
ancient, glorious history, whose traces can be found in the villages,
castles and towns, not to mention the traditions
 of folklore and good
food. The mountains also meet the needs of winter sports enthusiasts.
There are a large number of sporting and leisure activities to do in a
wonderful environment that is all waiting there to be discovered. In the
same way, there are spas, too, waiting to be discovered in this region.
Along the Via Salaria, in a position overlooking the Tronto river, we come
to Acquasanta with its baths that were already well-known in Roman times.
The waters gush out at a temperature of 38.6 °C, deep in a series of
caves, one of which is used as a swimming pool. Acquasanta specializes in
treating inflammations of the locomotive disorders (Info: Pro Acquasanta
Terme, tel.- fax 0736 801291). A small but important spa resort is
San Vittore delle Chiuse, in the Genga area, near the famous Frasassi caves,
well-known for the therapeutic properties of its sulphurous and slightly
radioactive waters (Info: I.A.T., corso della Repubblica 70, 60040 Genga,
tel. 0732 625067, fax 0732 629791).
Other
spa resorts in the Marche worthy of note are Aspio,
Carignano,
Macerata
Feltria,
Montegrimano,
Petriano,
Sarnano,
Tolentino and
Torre di
Palme.
www.turismo.marche.it
Umbria
top
Shrouded in gentle, ever-changing natural surroundings, this
region seems to those who visit it for the first time like a magic picture
in which medieval towns and hills blend one into the other with their
infinite color-tones.
Umbria is known as
the "green head of
Italy", and
is also rich in folklore and age-old traditions, which combine with the
spirituality of sacred places such as Assisi,
Norcia and Cascia. Another feature of Umbria is
its genuine, tasty, and, above all, simple food that harks back to the
smells and colors of history. This land contains a huge cultural heritage,
distributed throughout the whole area, and a vast number of natural sights
of great charm, from the
 Marmore waterfall to
Lake
Trasimeno. Even the earth is permeated with a dense network of
underground passages, where the water flows and forms spectacular caves
and lakes of enormous interest to speleologists, such as the ones on
Mount
Cucco, for instance. These waters can naturally be used for
therapeutic purposes. The best-known resort is perhaps
San Gemini, west of Terni, on the road to Todi; it is famous for its bicarbonate-calcic water,
effective in treating digestive or bile disorders (Info: I.A.T., viale
Battisti 7,05100 Temi, tel.0744 23047, fax 0744 427259). There is also a
spa of significance at Città di Castello, in the
Tiber
valley, where the water is recommended for treatment of arthritic problems
of an inflammatory, chronic and degenerative nature (Info: I.A.T., piazza
Matteotti -
Logge Bufalini,
06012 Città di Castello, tel. 0758 554922,
fax 0758 552100). There are also spas at
Assisi,
Acquasparta and
Massa
Martana.
www.umbria2000.it
Lazio
top
When we say Lazio we
inevitably think immediately of
Rome. Rome is the capital of
the Lazio region as well as being - as the ancient Latins would have
said - the capital of the world. The region of
Lazio stands up well in comparison, and is an amazing
treasure-chest of art and history.
Lazio is a region of great charm, from the naturalistic and
environmental point of view, with a great variety of landscapes and a
long, exciting history that began even before the founding of the City of
Rome. By
far the best-known spa resort is Fiuggi, in the Frosinone province. It is
mentioned in writings dating from 27 A.D. by Pliny the Elder and Pope
Boniface VIII, who was born in Ciociaria and was well acquainted with the
spring and the quality of the water, and was a keen consumer of it The
source at Fiuggi (the Boniface VIII Spring and the Anticolana Spring) is
the only one that has this very unusual spring water, low in mineral
content, combining, diuretic properties with an ability to "dissolve"
kidney stones and prevent them re-forming. The Fiuggi water is bottled and
is wide ly on sale, but the best way to enjoy its benefits is to drink it
directly from the spring, in an oasis of tranquil, green surroundings full
of possibilities for leisure and culture (Info: IAT., via Gorizia 4,03015
Fiuggi, tel. 0775 515446, fax 0775 515766). Another resort in the Ciociaria area is
Ferentino, 13 kilometers from Frosinone. This town rich
in its historical sites, dates to classical and medieval times. There is a
source of sulphurous-bicarbonate-calcic water with excellent therapeutic
properties, recommended for rheumatic, respiratory, gynecological.
dermatological and circulatory illnesses and disorders (Info: A.P.T., via
Moro 465,03100 Fresinone, tel. 0775 833837). At
Tivoli, in the
Rome area, the
carbonic-sulphurous springs that gush out from the two lakes,
Regina and
Colonnella, are still called by the name that they had right back in
ancient times: the Acque Albule. The waters are whitish in color because
of the gassy emulsion which forms on their surface. In the Roman era, this
water was regarded as miraculous, able to cure all ills, and it is
mentioned by Virgil in the Aeneid. The Tivoli
water is particularly recommended for the treatment and prevention of
inflammatory and allergies diseases of the respiratory system (Info:
I.A.T., piazza Garibaldi, 00011 Bagni di Tivoli, tel. 0774 311249, fax
0774 331294). The spa resort of Bagni di Viterbo, just outside the city of
Viterbo,
with its Etruscan origins, is also especially fascinating because of its
past. Popes came to be treated here in the Middle Ages, benefiting from
the healing properties of its sulphurous-sulphate-bicarbonate-ferruginous
water and the mineral muds that are produced in its springs (Info: A.P.T.,
piazza San Cartoccio 5,01100 Viterbo, tel. 0761 304795, fax 0761 220957).
Other
spas in the Latium region are Canale Monterano,
Castel Sant'Angelo,
Palestrina,
Palombara Sabina,
Rieti
and
Suio Terme.
www.turislazio.it
Abruzzo and
Molise
top
The
land of
Abruzzo and
Molise, regions that were united administratively in the past, but which are
today linked by a common history and by common natural scenery, is a land
of landscapes, history, art, traditions and, above all, the beauties of
nature which are here well-loved and protected. This region holds a great
fascination for everyone, but in particular it offers a vast range of
possibilities and activities appealing to young people and to those who
enjoy nature, the mountains, rivers and the gentle seashore. There is a
vast range of holiday facilities here to satisfy the needs of even the
most demanding tourist. The idea of a holiday in this part of
Italy is
inseparably linked to the countryside and, in particular, to the nature
parks in the area, the main one being the
Abruzzo
National
Park. In this very
special position between the Adriatic sea and the Apennine massifs,
Abruzzo and Molise offer people seeking a spa-holiday a small but
significant choice of resorts of considerable interest. We must mention
Caramanico Terme, inside the Maiella National Park at an altitude of 600
meters, with its salubrious climate contributing to the effectiveness of
treatments based on sulphurous mineral waters and medio-mineral waters
(Info: I.A.T., corso Bernardi 39,65023 Caramanico Terme, tel.-fax 0859
22202); then there are Canistro and
Raiano in Aquila province,
Popoli in
the Pescara area, and Sepino in Molise.
www.regione.abruzzo.it
-
www.regione.molise.it
The wonderful sights of nature and the colors of the
South
top
Europe 's terrace overlooking the Mediterranean - this is
Southern Italy with
Campania,
Puglia,
Basilicata,
Calabria,
Sicilia and
Sardegna: an
explosion of colors and perfumes, the deep, limpid sea, and the islands,
large and small. A crossroads for the history that has passed through here
and left its traces, from Ancient Greece, to the civilization of the
Arabs, and from Spain to the Normans. Above all, it offers the splendor of
nature, displayed in breathtaking scenery: the green woodlands sloping
down into the blue of the sea, the white cliffs and the deep red of the
countryside inland. In the midst of these marvels, there are spas that are
famous throughout the world: firstly Ischia and its "spa paradise", a
piece of Italy offering the chance to holiday in one of the most beautiful
and most celebrated seaside resorts; and then there's Agnano, Contursi,
Lamezia, Castellammare del Golfo, Margherita di Savoia and Santa Cesarea.
Choosing to go to
Southern
Italy means diving into a unique
world and finding a holiday where sun, sea and good health beat together
in extraordinary harmony keeping fit on
holiday.
Campania
top
It
is in Campania, against
the extraordinary background of the
island of
Ischia, that the
tourist has the chance to encounter one of the most important spa
districts in
Italy. Because of its complex volcanic origin, the
island of
Ischia has a hydrothermal heritage that is among the richest and
most interesting in the world. There are 69 fumaroles groups (or fields)
and 29 hydrothermal wells, spouting 103 "spontaneous emergences",
scattered over the island's surface of around 42 square kilometers. This
wealth of springs has made
Ischia famous ever
since ancient times. Strabo and Pliny often mention the
 therapeutic powers
of the island's waters, in their writings. The fame of the spas underwent
various vicissitudes over the centuries: it was known to the Ancient
Greeks, was rediscovered by the Romans in the imperial era and, after
centuries of oblivion, it was studied by the doctor Jasolino at the end of
the seventeenth century. From then on, the popularity of the
Ischia waters has
gone on growing, supported by the ever more rigorous research carried out
by scientists over the years. Ischia is now acknowledged as the European
market leader among spa resorts: there are numerous hotels, with
comfortable, modem facilities, offering the chance to have most of the spa
treatments in exceptional surroundings, among pine-forests, beaches,
wonderful panoramas, restaurants and places of entertainment for young
people and high society. The treatments available on the
island of
Ischia are: mud-therapy, balneotherapy (in individual baths or
collective pools), anthrotherapy and inhalation therapy. While taking
advantage of these, one can also have access to specific treatments such
as massages and medical gymnastics, which make the salutary effects of the
waters more effective. Spa waters abound in all the island's resorts, in
the same way and with the same characteristics, but they often have
specific local properties. The oldest spa in
Ischia is the one at Casamicciola. Nobles and wealthy people from
all over Europe have come here
to undergo treatments. The springs of the Casamicciola area are
chlorine-sodium in type, and are recommended for arthritic illnesses,
gynecological disorders and diseases of the respiratory tract. The waters
at Barano, on the other hand, are classified as salso-sulphate-alkaline,
hyperthermal and mineral, and gush out at a temperature of 74 °C; they are
recommended for respiratory inflammations and gynecological complaints.
The springs at Forìo, on the west coast, have waters that are
chlorine-sodium-radioactive, and have positive effects on arthritic
complaints, gynecological disorders and metabolism disorders. The special
feature of the water at Ischia Porto is its salso-sulphate composition,
recommended for arthroses and gynecological disorders.
Lacco Ameno, on the
northern coast, offers the highest known radioactivity factor, due to the
presence of radon. These waters are rich in sulphur, magnesium and sodium
and are recommended in particular for gynecological disorders. Finally,
the salso-bromo-iodic waters at Sant'Angelo-Serrara Fontana are especially
recommended for metabolism disorders (gout, diabetes) and for some
syndromes linked to obesity (Info: A.A.C.S.T., Banchina
 Porto Salvo, 80077
Ischia Porto, tel. 081 5074231, fax 081 5074230). Spa activity in Campania is not
limited to Ischia, however.
Virtually the whole region has spa resorts and centers of excellent
quality. In the Naples area, for
instance, there are Agnano Terme, Bacoli,
Torre
Annunziata, and Vico
Equense, along with the other well-known resorts.
Castellammare di
Stabia, the ancient Stabiae
destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., is located on the south
eastern coast of the Gulf of Naples, near the Sorrento
peninsula. Twenty-eight springs supply a great variety of waters, covering
almost the whole range of possible therapeutic uses (Info: A.A.C.S.T.,
piazza Matteotti 34, 80053 Castellammare di
Stabia, tel.-fax 081
8711334). Pozzuoli,
in the centre of the wide volcanic area of the Phlegraean Fields, was
already known to the Romans, who used the sulphurous mud for healing
purposes. The waters and muds of Pozzuoli are used
today in the treatment of respiratory and locomotive system disorders, and
for skin complaints (Info: A.A.C.S.T., piazza Matteotti 1,80078 Pozzuoli,
tel. 081 5266639, fax 081 5265068). The spa resort of
Contursi is situated
in the Salerno area, a few
kilometers from the Cilento National Park; this resort also has very ancient origins and was
frequented by the upper classes at the time of the Roman Empire. The waters are classified as sulphurous and
salso-bicarbonate-alkaline-earthy, they are particularly recommended in
chronic and degenerative inflammatory illnesses of the locomotive system
(Info: Comune di Contursi, via Teatro 1,84024 Contursi Terme, tel. 0828
791455). Further south in the Salerno area, lies the
spa town of Montesano sulla Marcellana. There is another important
resort, Telese, between Benevento and Caserta.
The waters of Telese, too, have been known about since time immemorial.
Their use dates back, in fact, to the Roman era, and the great prosperity
enjoyed by the town of Telesia under Roman rule can in all probability be
attributed to this - so much so, that the town rose to the rank of a
colonia (the impressive remains of this Roman settlement can be seen two
kilometers away from the centre). The waters here are very rich in mineral
salts, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. They are recommended for a
large number of illnesses, and particularly for ear, nose and throat and
respiratory disorders, in arthro-rheumatic illnesses, diseases of the
vascular system, dermatological problems, female gynoes problems, and
gastro-enteric and bile-duct disorders (Info: Comune di Telese, viale
Minieri 1,82037 Telese, tel. 0824 976018). We should also mention the spa
resorts of Mondragone in the Caserta province and
Villamaina in the Avellino
province.
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