Fonteverde Tuscan Resort Spa

The ancient Etruscans first discovered the healing properties of the mineral springs in the Val d'Orcia, midway between Rome and Florence. A Medici duke built a resort here in the 17th century; now Italian dowagers and the occasional celebrity come to Fonteverde for a secluded spa retreat in a textbook-gorgeous Tuscan landscape. With a backdrop of green hills and cypress trees, you arrive to be greeted by a team of doctors who create a customized diet and spa regimen aligned with your goals and body type. Programs include include weight-loss, detox, skin rejuvenation—or a course of treatments using the region’s mineral-rich spring water and mud. There are seven thermal pools, including one just for children and another reserved for pampered pooches. The 80 rooms are traditionally decorated, with half-tester beds, antique furniture and damask curtains. The timeless quality continues at mealtime: Tuscan cuisine (delicious and good for you!) is served on white tablecloths in a restaurant overlooking the same landscape the Etruscans first appreciated.

An elegant spa retreat focused on thermal springs.

Close to Tuscany’s major sites: Florence is about two hours by car.

You like your spa getaways old-school European, not New Age-y or Zen.

Water gently massages you in one of Fonteverde’s thermal pools as the sun majestically rises over Mount Amiata.

Restaurant Ferdinando - Tuscan cuisine with wellness options for spa-goers Bioquam - Light lunch poolside Bar Il Falconiere