Famed for its mineral springs, Montecatini Terme is an Italian spa town in the Tuscan province of Pistoia. Its therapeutic waters have been revered since at least Roman times and a spa existed on the site as early as 1340. Montecatini Terme was officially established by the House of Habsburg-Lorraine in the 18th century and is now UNESCO World Heritage-listed.
Things to do in Montecatini Terme
No visit to Montecatini Terme is complete without a stroll through Parco delle Terme, which was designed in 1912 by Giulio Bernardini. It connects the town’s thermal spas, including Terme Excelsior, Terme Tettuccio, Terme Torretta and Terme Tamerici. A range of therapeutic treatments and massages are available at the spas or you can admire their Art Nouveau architecture from one of the park’s walking trails.
Art enthusiasts can visit Montecatini Contemporary Art, which boasts an outstanding collection of works dating from the second half of the 20th century. The museum occupies the Palazzo Comunale with its beautiful stained-glass windows. Highlights include “Woman Wrapped in a Flight of Birds” by Joan Miró, as well as paintings by Pietro Annigoni and sculptural works by Claes Oldenburg.
Ride the funicular that leads to Montecatini Alto, a former fortress town that dates back to medieval times. It’s home to the impressive clock tower of Torre dell’Orologio, which once formed part of the village’s defensive walls. Also, don’t miss the Romanesque-style Church of Santa Maria a Ripa with its collection of sacred art.
Getting around Montecatini Terme
Montecatini Terme is around an hour’s drive from Florence and just 30 minutes from Florence Airport, Peretola, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Montecatini Centro railway station while the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.