A Family Dream in a Tuscan Spa

by Katharine Bohlmann

Thermal baths, large fluffy bathrobes (which you wear to the dining room), mineral water, tons of pools, massages, fantastic food, and waterfalls. This is Fonteverde, an Italian spa in Tuscany.

My adventure began on the train to Chiusi, a small village located between Rome and Florence. When we arrived in Chiusi, a driver greeted us, took our bags and opened the car door for us. As we traveled to the spa, I enjoyed the beautiful green fields filled with the beginning of springtime buds. We drove into the long driveway and I saw the waterfall spilling into the gigantic thermal pool. At that moment, I was so excited to be here, as were my feet, still sore from walking on the cobblestones of Rome. As we entered the lobby of this Italian villa, we were greeted by the General Manager, who wished us a wonderful visit, and were escorted to our suite, which had a large terrace from which I could see many swimming pools. I could not wait to put on my swimming suit and head down there!

One of the best things about this hotel is that they encourage you to wear your bathrobe everywhere…even to breakfast and lunch. So, I put on my suit and the large green robe (which was waiting on my bed), and after a quick meal, I was ready to hit the big pool with the waterfall. It is a thermal pool so it is quite warm, and at one end, there is a large waterfall that is fun to sit under and have the water pound down on your back. It is fantastic and one of the highlights of this place. You see people lying under the waterfall for hours.

Fonteverde has a large spa and workout area for adults and they welcome kids to the various pools and relaxation rooms. Although I could not have a massage or spa treatment because I am only ten, I experienced many other cool things such as the bioquam. The bioquam is this big pool that has several stations that you move through. Each station has a different type of jet to massage your body. You are supposed to swim around and go to all the jets. I also tried the Kneipp bath. In a Kneipp, there are two narrow pools. One is filled with water that is 97°F and the other side is filled with water that is 57°F. You wade through one, then through the other side, each for twenty minutes. The purpose of the Kneipp is to get the blood circulating. Your legs feel great when you are finished. I also experienced the salt flotation pool. In this pool, you walk into a darkened room that has a mini pool loaded with salt and minerals. Because there is so much salt in the water, you float and relax. The salt is good for your skin and helps heal any cuts.

After all that time in the water, I was ready for some homemade pasta. The Italians certainly know how to make noodles and a variety of sauces. The bread is baked daily and the vegetables were picked from the gardens on the property. Everything I ate was fresh and delicious and, of course, the vanilla and chocolate gelato was Five-Cone quality!

We only stayed at Fonteverde for a few nights, as we were heading to Florence. I wish we had been able to stay longer. It was a great stopover and well needed after all our sightseeing in Rome.

They love kids all over Italy, but this spa really does welcome children of all ages. If I were to go back, I'd like to spend some time exploring the nearby ancient villages. There is much more to see and do in this area although I would also be perfectly happy to sit under the waterfall with the warm water rolling down my back for hours. As the Italian's say…"la dolce vita" - the good life!

For more information, please visit www.Fonteverde.com.

Katharine Bohlmann is currently in the 5th grade. She lives in the Pacific Palisades with her Dad and also lives in Santa Monica with her Mom. In her free time she loves to watch Gilmore Girls, shop, and write.