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In Emila Romagna the quality of life is important, it is no surprise to find that it is home to some of Italy’ finest spa establishments and wellness centers.

These “heavens of well-being”, often set in beautiful natural environments, are perfect places to relax and take a break from frenetic business life. From the Appennines near Piacenza to the Romagna Coast, the region offers a dense network of spas that use natural spring water for treating a wide range of aliments, diseases and disorders. In many cases these establishments have interesting histories that are closely linked to the longstanding traditions of spa culture. However, despite having their origins in the past, they have truly modernized, incorporating the latest technology. These thermal spas offer integrated treatments for wellness and body care, but there are also other interesting options associated to various sports, and their cultural or leisure activities.

Bagno di Romagna Terme

As the archeological remains of the Sant’Agnese baths show, there has been interest in the curative properties of its hot springs since Roman times, when the town was called Oppidum Balnei. Today, Bagno di Romagna is a health spa with the following facilities: Sant’Agnese, the first spa complex dating from the i8th century, the Terme Roseo spa and the Euroterme hotel-spa complex. Sant’Agnese offers hydropinic treatments (drinking the spring water), mud- and balneo-therapy, natural caves (for steam therapy), and treatments for vascular diseases and gynecological problems. There is also a wellness center. The Terme Roseo spa has its own spring and, in addition to the main treatments (mud therapy, a steam cave, inhalations, baths and irrigations of various kinds) offers physiokinesitherapy and motory rehabilitation. This spa also has a wellness center. Euroterme has a thermal pool complex, partly indoor and partly open-air, with a solarium, hydro-massage, geyser falls, underwater massage beds, underwater music therapy and a pediatric department with colorful play areas. It also has a sports medical center and a wellness center. The properties of the sulfurous bicarbonate alkaline water are beneficial in the treatment of circulatory diseases, liver and bile-duct complaints, problems of the digestive tract, the motory and respiratory systems, and the urinary tract, metabolism disorders and gynecological problems.

Castrocaro Terme

There is an unusual story behind the discovery of the hot springs here. In 1829, some customs officers caught a smuggler in the act of stealing a small barrel of salt water from the springs of the Bolga River. The court ordered him to pay a fine since he was found guilty of stealing from the State (since salt was a state monopoly) and ordered that the stolen water should be analyzed. Scientific analysis showed that the water contained not only salt, but also bromine and iodine. This led to the first therapeutic experiments and the erection of spa facilities, as well as the sale of mineral water. The Castrocaro Terme spa complex, founded in 1843, comprises three buildings situated in a park of 8 hectares. They were designed by the Florentine architect Boboli, the same man who created the Boboli Gardens in Florence, and are directly connected to the Jolly Hotel Grande Albergo Terme. The spa is set in a relaxing environment and has excellent facilities for sport and entertainment, including a vast outdoor pool, hydro-massage and trampolines, a mini-golf course and an open-air dance-floor. In addition to traditional spa treatments, there is a specialist health center; a wellness center with pools fed with spring water, hydro-massage, a sauna, a Turkish bath, a steam cave, a Scottish shower, a rehabilitation center (specializing in shoulder complaints); a diagnosis, prevention and rehabilitation center for vascular and lymphatic diseases; departments of esthetic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, and a homeopathic medicine service. The temperature of the water ranges from 6.5°C/44°F to 15°C/59°F and is beneficial in the treatment of circulatory diseases, skin complaints, problems of the digestive tract, the motory system and the respiratory system and the urinary tract, metabolism, gynecological and stomatological disorders.

Riccione Terme

According to tradition, the Blessed Alexius, patron saint of the town, made water spout from a rock to slake the thirst of some pilgrims. Other tales relate that Turkish corsairs used to stop at Riccione during their raids on the coasts of the Adriatic, in order to benefit from the thermal springs here. Historic sources provide evidence that the spring water here was appreciated by the Emperor Diocletian and, in the i/th century, by Queen Christina of Sweden. However, Riccione didn’t really become a spa town until the 2oth century, when it suddenly became a popular tourist destination. Today, Riccione has a modern spa complex comprising two pavilions (Centrale and Bianco), set in a park of 40,000 m2 with a wide range of facilities. The complex is a stone’s throw from the sea of Riccione, Italy’s leading wellness beach, with a pool fed with spring water, inhalatory treatments and waterfall hydro-massage. The wellness sector is very important here. The Oasi di Riccione Terme has both a center for thermal medicine and esthet surgery (with gyms, 4 pools fed with spring water, a humid-hot cave, massa, and mud therapy), and the La Marina Bagno 49 wellness beach. There are numerous therapeutic treatments available (for disintoxication, osteoporosis, giving up smoking, backache) and a vast range of thermal and esthetic treatments. The water here is recommended in the treatment of circulatory diseases, liver and bile-duct complaints, skin disorders, problems ol the digestive tract, the motory system, respiratory system, the urinary tract, an metabolism and gynecological disorder.

Salsomaggiore Terme

The salt bromine iodic water of Salsomaggiore was already well-known and used in the 8th century, on account of its high salt content. The first public spacomplex, which dates from 1858, soon became famous all over Italy. The Terme di Salsomaggiore company
operates the Terme Berzieri andTerme Zoia spa establishments. The former was built from 1913-1923 in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. The latter, built in the Parco Mazzini in 1970, has a different style based on simplicity and functionality. The range of treatments offered by the spa is staggering. Terme Berzieri not only has inhalation and mud therapy departments (where the salt bromine iodic water is concentrated into the so-called acqua madre - brine - and natural mud), but incorporates the Tempio di Igea wellness center (with a sauna, a Turkish bath, French shower, aromatic treatments, beauty treatments and massage). Terme Zoia offers all the traditional spa treatments and has a modern medical center and various specialized centers (pediatric inhalations, thermal hydro-therapy, osteoporosis analyses, mouth hygiene and esthetic medicine). The Terme di Salsomaggiore company also operates two hotels with in-house treatments: the Grand Hotel Porro and the Hotel Valentini. Both buildings are situated in a park where there is also a large indoor pool (the only one in town fed with thermal spring water). Not far from these buildings, in the town center, is the Istituto Termale
Baistrocchi, a historic institution with 300 rooms, which offers its guests a brand new treatment department and weekly programs to improve physical wellness. The water of the Salsomaggiore Terme spring (i6°C/6i°F) is good for the treatment of circulatory diseases, and problems associated with themotoryand respiratory systems, as well as gynecological and stomatological complaints.

[techtags: spa, resort, pool, wellness, health, italian spas, Terme, Castrocaro, Salsomaggiore, Riccione, Bagno di Romagna, water, cure, health treatment, bath]