Click for larger view! ~ photo courtesy of Grotta Giusti

When considering a visit to Tuscany, you absolutely must give strong consideration to spending a few nights relaxing in the healing thermal waters that are prevalent in underground caves (grotta) in Italy’s volcanic region just west of Florence.

It’s no grand national secret that baby boomer travelers love spas, but to experience natural volcanic thermal waters many feet below the ground in a natural cave is quite another thing!

For our first underground thermal “steam bath” we chose to spend a few nights at the Grotta Giusti Resort, Golf & Spa located in the comune (similar to county) of Monsummano Terme just a few kilometers from Florence, Pisa, and Lucca.

Grotta Giusti Resort, Golf & Spa is a former early 19th-century villa, a member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and offers guests 58 double-rooms and six junior suites.

Our most amazing steam bath … ever!

In addition to the resort’s famous underground thermal cave, the property is set in a beautiful, mountainous park-like setting offering golf, a large spa; a massive outdoor pool, indoor pools, mammoth jacuzzi-style pools, a fabulous gourmet restaurant, casual restaurants to enjoy throughout the day, and beautifully frescoed interiors to delight the senses.

Note: if you can’t see the video, click here.

Impressions of our stay at Grotta Giusti Resort, Golf & Spa in Tuscany

• The drive to Grotta Giusti is stunningly beautiful.  We enjoyed curving mountains roads passing by massive olive groves on our way up to the resort.
• First impressions were high as we passed through the automated front gate and drove through the resort’s park-like setting.
• Even though we were staying in a former 19th villa, we were very comfortable in our room and enjoyed all the niceties that luxury travelers enjoy.
• Doning our white monk-like robes, we descended into the most ethereal spa surroundings we’ve ever experienced.  We love caves, but the idea that we were going to get to sit for a spell and take in heat from the warm waters of the clearly visible underground lake and have stalactites and stalagmites as our relaxation partners was beyond belief.  What a stunning, stunning experience!
• La Carte, the on-site gourmet restaurant, was a real treat.  The staff was delightful, and we greatly enjoyed sampling authentic local cuisine.  In addition to all the Mediterranean and Italian items one would expect, we enjoyed rabbit, wild boar, and “new” local olive oil only a week old.
• Evenings were fun at Grotta Giusti.  There was live music, a beautifully appointed bar, and even a separate smoking lounge for the cigar lovers in the crowd.
• We greatly enjoyed a jacuzzi-type pool that was perhaps the size of an olympic pool, but had various stations throughout with each having a very different style of moving water.  It was glorious, and we could have stayed in that pool all day long!
• While Carol and I didn’t have time to enjoy a massage, our friends from Michigan did, and they spoke very highly of the experience.  You know, massive relaxation, rubber legs, and the world moving in slow motion.

I must admit, as I’m writing this, I’m finding myself wishing that I possessed one of those transporter chambers that they had on Star Trek.  If I did, I would clearly be asking Scotty to “beam me up” right now to Grotta Giusti for another healthy dose of relaxation, fabulous dining, and wonderful time spent with our friends.

As I mentioned in the top of the article, when visiting Tuscany, you simply must add a few days visit to the Grotta Giusti Resort, Golf & Spa.  We highly recommend the experience.

Link: Grotta Giusti Resort, Golf & Spa

Disclosure: a portion of our experience was provided by the kind folks at Grotta Giusti Resort, Golf & Spa.  Thanks!!

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