Monsummano Terme is a small town, and is apparently less spoiled by mass spa tourism as its larger cousin, Montecatini Termi. The entire town revolves around the Grotta Guisti Terme: every corner is plastered with signs pointing to this combined spa/grotta/hotel.

The Grotta Giusti Terme is nice: You enter via a historic building, and receive a ticket for both grotta and the exterior thermal pool.

The Grotta is best pictured as a steamy, cavernous cave lines with stalagmites and stalactites. Inside, it's 31°C in the first section, and 36°C in all the way in the back. Before you enter, you get a special robe to wear and are then advised to proceed into the cave, where you can stay up to 60 minutes.

After a shower, you can go bathe in the outside pool, which has comfortably warm wather and water jets.

The experience costs 14 EUR weekdays and 16 EUR on weekends, when it's rather crowded. If you want to stay longer, get a room at the adjoining luxury hotel with nice rooms, fantastic food, and expensive rates.

Their website is: http://www.grottagiustispa.com/

How to Get There

Best is to come by car on the autostrada - the exit is the same as for Montecatini Terme. The train station is 4 km away, so you'd have to take a taxi.