The most beautiful underground spas in Italy, from Umbria to Sicilia

© Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort Tuscany

Those who want to unplug from the stressful daily grind are waiting for the weekend to plan something relaxing, such as a spa stay. In Italy, springs surface everywhere and there are many, therefore, spas capable of providing physical and mental well-being: some of the most beautiful underground spas in Italy can even be found in the basements of large or small cities, from Assisi to Syracuse.

Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum (Assisi)

This luxurious SPA is located in the heart of Assisi, inside an old monastery dedicated to St. Catherine: the renovation has remained faithful to the original environments, keeping them rich in elegance and charm. The Nun SPA Museum is located in the basement of the structure and pampers guests with a splendid swimming pool among pillars dating back to the 1st AD, typical rooms of the Roman baths (Frigidarium, Calidarium, Tepidarium and Sudatorio), whirlpool baths and a pleasant herbal tea room.
The Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum then allows guests to visit places associated with the Poverello of Assisi, from the Basilica of St. Francis frescoed by Giotto to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Porziuncola, where St. Francis died in 1226.

© Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum

Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort Tuscany (Monsummano Terme)

Monsummano Terme lies in the heart of Tuscany, and it is here that this spa was born, located inside the 19th-century Villa Giusti, former home of the poet of the same name. The building is set in a lush centuries-old park where a spring from the Montalbano aquifer, rich in trace minerals and mineral salts, gushes forth. Here there is also a thousand-year-old grotto from which a beneficial steam, which Giuseppe Garibaldi also enjoyed, emerges.Guests then have at their disposal as many as three swimming pools, including an intimate one whose atmosphere invites meditation.
After the spa, there is nothing better than visiting the historic center of Monsummano Terme, from the Castle to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontenuova.

© Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort Tuscany

Adler Spa Resort Thermae (San Quirico D’Orcia)

Adler Spa Resort Thermae is located a short distance from the heart of San Quirico d’Orcia, a medieval jewel that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The establishment is set among the beautiful Tuscan hills and provides guests with a large fitness area and swimming pools with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. In the basement, guests can pamper themselves with a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath and herbal caldarium. After spa treatments, guests can sample typical Tuscan cuisine at the resort’s restaurant, where there is also a well-stocked wine cellar. The property also provides bicycles for exploring the surroundings.

Palazzo Gattini Luxury Hotel (Matera)

In the heart of Matera, Basilicata, stands Palazzo Gattini: a 5-star hotel overlooking Piazza Duomo, restored to enhance the original appearance of the structure. The spa rises in caves carved out of the stone, just like the Sassi di Matera declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guests can take care of themselves with massages, emotional showers, hammams and especially a magnesium-enriched flotation tank, which allows you to stay afloat as if you were back in your mother’s fetus.
From Palazzo Gattini you can easily reach the heart of Matera, from Sasso Caveoso to Sasso Baresano to the splendid rock churches, including that of Santa Maria de Idris.

UNAHOTELS One Siracusa

The UNAHOTELS One in Syracuse is a landmark for stays in the jewel city of Eastern Sicilia: the rooms are modern and elegant, the Akademia restaurant is prized for its gourmet cuisine, and the Sky Roof allows guests to sip a cool aperitif with spectacular views of the city. The hotel has an excellent Comfort Zone Destination beauty center, with state-of-the-art equipment and spa treatments: the SPA is actually developed in the hotel’s basement, complete with a Salt Grotto, hammam, Finnish sauna, long Kneipp path and relaxing experience showers.
After a day of relaxation, there is nothing better than reaching Ortigia, the historic center of Syracuse, to visit its countless sights, from the Fountain of Diana to Maniace Castle to the Neapolis archaeological park.