The thermal cave is a true jewel of nature, already in 1849 when it was almost casually discovered by the cave's miners on the hill of Monsummano, close to Montecatini, explorers remained fascinated by the discovery. A subterranean cave about 300 metres long, with stalactites and a small hot water lake. This is the inspirational scenario that appears as the cave is descended into.

Sir Domenico Giusti, after this discovery in 1849, seeing the beneficial effects of the waters on the suffering of arthritis and after receiving scientific confirmation of the real efficacy of the waters, decided to have the Regio Stabilimento built first and then the Albergo Reale to host those who decided to try the beneficial effects of the caves' waters.

The inside of the cave is divided in three areas, which as you descend they become ever warmer. Tradition named them after the names of Paradise, Purgatory and Hell, whereas the lake is nick-named Limbo, and maintains a constant temperature of 36°. The air temperature is subject to minimum variations, oscillating from the 31° of the first cavity to arrive to a maximum 34° in the last with a degree of moisture of almost hundred per cent.

Taking a bath on the cavern's waters, made up of bicarbonate, sulphate, calcium and magnesium detoxify the organism producing an overall sensation of well-being in the whole body, but the Giusti cave complex offers also other thermal treatments, such as for example treatment with cold mud for the anti-cellulite program, the ozonized bath, breathing cures and personalised treatments carried out by qualified personnel under the constant control of a specialist doctor.

 'Training' programmes can be chosen to fight stress, if on the other hand you prefer a program to bring you back into shape you can choose a 'Beauty & Fitness' treatment; also inside the complex you can use the Beauty Institute and the Dermo-cosmetic Research Centre.

Grotta Giusti Terme is in Monsummano Terme, in the province of Pistoia, a a few kilometres away from Montecatini Terme. The thermal city si a short distance away form some of tuscany's most beautifl art cities: around 40 km from Florence, 30 km from Lucca, 60 km from Pisa, 110 km from Siena; ed and finally the Vinci's medieval villages, where you can visit Leonardo da Vinci's castle; San Gimignano and Collodi where you can visit the park dedicated to Pinocchio's adventures.

How to reach Monsummano Terme:
By train: Montecatini Terme station on the Lucca - Florence line
By car: coming from the A1 Milan - Reggio Calabria in Firenze nord take the link road for the A11 towards Pisa Nord and exit at Montecatini Terme. Coming from the A12 Genova - Rosignano, at the junction for Pisa nord take the A1 for Firenze, recommended exit Montecatini Terme.
By plane: Florence's A. Vespucci airport is about 40 km away; the Pisa airport around 60 -km.

March.2003