DESTINATION RESTORATION

Plagued by aches and pains? Put your recovery first this summer by taking a trip to the Tuscan countryside to soak in ancient thermal springs

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Surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves, and home to naturally therapeutic thermal waters, Terme di Saturnia Natural Spa & Golf Resort in the heart of Tuscany is the perfect place to escape from the frenzy of everyday life, soothe hardworking muscles and quite literally float your troubles away.

When my partner and I arrived at the rural destination - after one flight, two trains and a winding car journey - we were greeted by staff who whisked us away on a tour of the expansive resort. Set within 120 hectares of unspoilt Tuscan countryside, this five-star wellness destination is home to 124 luxurious rooms and suites, an award-winning spa, an 18-hole golf course and traditional restaurants and bars.

The main attraction lies at the very centre of the resort and is the reason people have been coming to this remedial site for thousands of years, long before the resort was even built: pools of natural thermal spring waters, which have been gushing from the depths of the earth for 3,000 years. Rich in minerals, warmth and bioplankton, soaking in these ancient pools offers numerous benefits, from skin health and respiratory function to muscle recuperation and relaxation.

THERMAL THERAPY

By the time we had arrived, the pools were closing for the evening, so we had to content ourselves with simply gazing upon the mystical, steamy waters while enjoying Tuscan cuisine and local wine in the 1919 Restaurant, which looks out over the pool. The following morning, after yet more wistful gazing at the steamy springs - it was finally time to soak.