SPA HOTEL FONTEVERDE

Swish resort designed for five-star spa living

LOOKING OUT OVER THE SIENA HILLS, this place has the kind of setting that can lift your spirits just by lapping up the views. Nudging the tiny village of San Casciano dei Bagni – all tiny alleys wrapped around a Tuscan hilltop – Spa Hotel Fonteverde gazes out over a rolling tapestry of cypress trees, vineyards and distant hills. 

The vista from the sprawling terrace of the Fonteverde is more than matched by everything that goes on inside. This former Medici residence (a favourite haunt of Grand Duke Ferdinando in the 17th century) is now an ultra-swish resort dedicated to five-star spa living, and you’ll almost certainly leave in better shape than when you arrived. Guests can come here for a top-to-bottom bio-energetic check-up, some serious health therapy or – as we did – some full-on pampering.

Needless to say, they don't do things by halves here. Our side-by-side aromatherapy massage left us blissed out and ready to try some of the seven gorgeous spa pools. (There’s even one reserved for visiting pooches).

After being pummelled by water jets in the indoor/outdoor spa water pool and getting a drenching beneath the waterfall of another, we decided you can’t beat watching the sun go down from the deliciously hot waters of the fabulous outdoor infinity pool, lit from below, as the Tuscan skies darkened above. It's a pretty amazing place for a dip.

Waterfalls and hydro pools

Dinner at Spa Hotel Fonteverde is a dressy affair complete with liveried waiters, and a menu that allows you to choose dishes with various degrees of calorific indulgence. But unwinding is the order of the day and it’s fine to turn up for breakfast – or wander around the hotel – in your fluffy towelling gown.

Rooms are luxurious and smartly colour coordinated, and the stash of goodies arrayed in our marble bathroom even included a thermal mud masque to try. There are a couple of fabulous terrace suites here for some serious splashing out, Fonteverde style.


Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort was reviewed for Room for Romance by Mairiona Cotter

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
The hotel's elegant and antique-furnished Ferdinando 1 restaurant is the place to sample traditional Tuscan fare made with local ingredients like porcini mushrooms, olives and Pienza cheese, as well as lighter, health-conscious fare.

Dining out
If you're ready for a change, head to the village square in San Casciano dei Bagni for an al fresco lunch.

See & Do
Relaxation and feel-good treatments are what it's all about here. However, you might like to take a trip to historic Florence, Siena and Perugia, or simply spend a day driving through the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Chiusi's Archaeological Museum is packed with interest,  and wine and olive oil and wine tastings are easily arranged.

Shop
Pop into the Fonteverde's boutique to stock up on own-brand spa products, or buy some olive oil and Brunello di Montalcino wine locally. Style hounds can head for the nearby designer outlets.

Spa
This is a full-on spa experience hotel with just about everything you could wish for. The Vitalstone and Dipu massages will leave you totally chilled while Talaquam and Bioaquam treatments will perk up the most jaded systems. The wide range of treatments available includes Chinese Zu reflexology, micro-plankton treatments and phyto-fango therapy to banish cellulite.

After dark
Sip a cocktail watching the sun go down, or soak in the toasty waters of the fabulous open-air thermal pools as night falls over Tuscany.

Dates
July
Festival della Val D’Orcia celebrates local art and culture, cuisine, music and history.

GETTING THERE

Location
53040 San Casciano dei Bagni, Località Terme

Parking
There is free guest parking.

Trains
Chiusi station –20 minutes

Taxis
EUR 15 from the station.

Airport
Florence – 150km

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
EUR 220 - 1340

Open/closed
Open all year

Check-in
3pm

Check-out
Midday

Minimum night stay?
Three nights over New Year, Easter and bank holidays

Breakfast
Buffet breakfast is served until 10:30am

Room service
Available mornings and evenings

Children
Youngsters are welcome, but no under-12’s in the spa

Pets
Welcome

Air conditioning
Yes

Languages
Italian, English, French, German and Russian

Wedding license?
Yes – ask for details