What should you try?
Here it’s all about bathing. But what makes the experience unique—other than the water itself, rich in sulfur, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and minerals—is the thermal plankton, a microorganism that develops naturally in the sulfurous water and is considered a secret boon for the skin. Supposedly, it helps rebalance, soothe inflammation, and support cell turnover. You’ll see many guests spreading algae and mud on their faces while they soak.
There are several add-ons available for the basic bathing routine: skin and body products, facials and body treatments that incorporate a skin-care line derived from the thermal water and plankton, and mud therapies that use the clay matured in the same mineral water. There is now increased attention paid to what goes into treatments, and I especially enjoyed Terra and Acqua, a blend of Eastern, Ayurvedic, and Western techniques using the thermal mud and spring water to detox and relax.
Beyond that, I’d recommend a session with Laura Quinti, the on-site naturopath. Laura is not for the faint of heart: One look into my irises and she told me more about my gut microbiome than what I’d expect from a long list of tests. And she will be very straightforward about what she thinks you need. The hotel has collaborated with her for years for naturopathic consultations, bioenergetic cleansing, reiki, and crystal work. I spent 45 minutes with her and was sure I’d gone to another planet for hours. After our session, something genuinely shifted in my body. When I told Bucciotti, she wasn’t surprised. “The treatments go as deep as you’ll let them,” she said.
Photo: Courtesy of Terme di Saturnia
What else do we need to know?
Stay longer than three days, if you can. I know it’s annoying advice; everyone has a life! But it’s true. Something shifts after day three. Your nervous system accepts that you’re safe. In any case, the best move is not to cram too much into the experience: sleep, eat, and soak, in close contact with something genuinely ancient and a little magical.
