My fourth trip to a hot spring swimming pool brings me to Monsummano Terme, where the establishment is called Grotta Giusti. My sister accompanied me again - funny how no one minds doing research with me! We were lucky - it was a gorgeous day for late December, and we bathed in the sun while we enjoyed the warm thermal waters. I think our little group of researchers may grow...
To get to Monsummano Terme from Florence, you take the A11 Autostrada (also known as the Firenze-Mare, or "Florence-Sea") and exit at Montecatini. As soon as you exit the tollway you will find indications for Monsummano Terme, and Grotta Giusti Spa.
While Grotta Giusti has been a thermal station for a many years, featuring a grotto famed for its healthful vapors, the swimming pool was opened just 7 years ago and is quite modern. From the well-maintained parking lot you arrive to the entrance where you pay the fee at the reception. When we went there was a special deal if you used the pool from 1pm-3pm only.
Pool Entrance
You are given a token to be used to access the dressing rooms, which are vast, and a ticket you will need to show to the lifeguard on the pool deck. To use the lockers you need a 1 euro coin. There are very nice showers and hair dryers in the dressing room.
From the dressing room you can enter the pool either through a tunnel where you can hang your bathrobe and leave your slippers, without going outside (if it's cold), or get directly onto the pool deck where you can leave your things on one of the many lounge chairs.
The pool is outdoors and very large. On one end there are 4 areas with whirlpools and jets. The rest is just the right depth for the average person to stand up comfortably. The jets run for about 10 minutes at a time, and then turn off for 10 minutes, during which time the bathers are supposed to leave the whirlpool area... therefore they all walk around the pool. As soon as the jets start up again, they return to that area. There are stone benches placed along the sides of the pool, nice to sit on and chat.
Whirlpools
The temperature of the water is 35°C/95°F. It is constantly fed by hot spring water containing bicarbonate, sulphur, calcium and magnesium. They do not add chlorine to the water as the flow is strong enough to avoid it. Being a fairly new pool, there is only a bit of mineral buildup on the sides of the pool - you can see the crystals forming. The water is clear, and doesn't have a particular smell or taste to it. It is wonderful for floating in!
Grotta Giusti Natural Spa Resort
Via Grottagiusti, 1411
51015 - Monsummano Terme
Tel. +39 0572 90771
No comments:
Post a Comment