Located near the ancient town of Saturnia, the Terme di Saturnia Spa Complex is the reason why celebrities and the world’s rich flock to the Maremma.

Now I know I say every town in the Maremma is ancient, but this time I really mean it (not that I didn’t mean it all those other times too!). Saturnia is one of the oldest towns in Italy, with its foundations firmly set in time of the Etruscans.

It’s also one of the only towns outside Rome where you can see Roman-built relics, like a little-worse-for-wear but gorgeous bath, believed to be the first public bath ever built.

But back to the Spa. When I first arrived in the Maremma I was, admittedly, too poor to visit this spa. Luckily, a VERY nice father of one of the children I taught scored me a couple a free entry tickets and invited me along with his family one afternoon.

It was incredible. Not only are there pools as far as the eye can see filled with that highly-coverted, 37.5°C hot spring water, but there’s also artificial waterfalls to relax under and in-water circulation paths to get the blood flowing.

It was only back in the ’70s that some clever soul decided to take these hot springs, which have  been enjoyed by the Maremmani since the times of the Romans, and turn them into the very chic spa we know today.

After investing a lot of money, the Spa’s owner has now also built a hotel around the pools, a golf course and a very lux wellness centre with jacuzzi and sauna and series of massages and pampering therapies for both your body and mind.

But back to the pools. They’re the real treat at the Terme di Saturnia Spa Complex after all! Be warned though, because the water contains a great deal of sulfur, it has a tendency to smell like off eggs- I don’t want to gross you out, I’m just being honest.

But once you take your first dip into the water you forget about the smell, trust me. The experience is divine and extremely pampering, and not just because it’s lovely and warm.

The sulfur that smells so rank is actually why these waters are so prized.Its part of a mix of different minerals and a funny little fellow called thermal plankton that infuses the water with therapeutic properties, which been touted since the time of the Romans and are said to cure digestive, cardiovascular, dermatological and respiratory problems.

But whether you’re there looking to be cured or just looking to relax, the Terme di Saturnia Spa Complex is the place to be. Let’s just say, I loved it so much, I used up all my free tickets in 2 weeks!

Entry to all the pools is 22 euros for an entire day. In certain times of the year you can get half-day ticket but not in Jan, because the Spa’s closed in Jan!

Oh and if the price is too steep for you… like it was for me… visit the Cascate del Mulino- they’re waterfalls that flow directly from the hot springs underground, which means you get to enjoy the same water for free!