Grotta Giusti Natural Spa Resort ★★★★

I feel somewhat decadent as I drive through the stunning autumn countryside of Tuscany, gazing at the dazzling scarlets and golds of vineyards stretching out all around me, and finally arrive at my destination. I am glad I have not come alone, at least there's two of us to feel spoilt as pampered stars, and I could never take on that golf course I spy amongst the trees, alone! What I see before me are yet more greens and glowing shades of orange, red and yellow, yet now within the context of a well-kept park. Following a smart driveway we reach the 19th century villa built especially for guests who wished to enjoy the benefits of the natural thermal springs discovered on this beautiful land in 1849. It’s warm, rustic stone set in elegant arches framing the wide windows and entrance complete the idyllic picture and I cannot wait to explore inside.

We are cordially welcomed and ushered through into the cool, hushed interiors to check in, and then follow our luggage up, through the magnificent hall, with the beautiful fading, fresco painted on its domed ceiling, to our room. We find ourselves in the lap of luxury; from the heavy brocade curtains and the enormous royal bed to the gentle pastel shades and pretty wallpaper all in keeping with the hotel's old-world décor and charm. Without a doubt the highlight feature is the Carrara marble bathroom complete with bathtub that can be filled with thermal water. If I were told that this was all, I would be quite content spending my time here, enjoying the healing benefits from the private comfort of my own room. But there is more, much much more...

Having gushed a little longer and been tempted into trying out the bed for a sweet, Italian siesta, I awake some time later parched with thirst. We decide it is time to explore our surroundings and find a place to have a refreshing drink. We don't have to look very far as we stumble across the Bioaquam Café, which offers light lunches, snacks and healthy drinks by the thermal swimming pool. Neither of us can resist that azure water for long, and having revived ourselves with a perfectly made cup of tea we dip in to the heavenly, warmth of the huge, majestic pool. Belying the slight nip in the air, as the steam rises up off the surface; we float there entirely immune and unaware of the evening chill. As the light begins to fail, we realise how late it must be and, wrapping ourselves in the great, fluffy dressing gowns provided, we pad back to our room to change for dinner. This turns out to be a delicious, yet not overly heavy affair, as award winning Chef Giuseppe Argentino blends traditional local cuisine with a fresh, light, creativity designed to complement the healthy lifestyle of the hotel.

Awaking fresh as a daisy I leap out of bed, keen to make the most of the heavenly day dawning outside our window. After an equally thoughtful breakfast, which includes a 'Bio Corner', I am challenged to tackle the spectacular golf course to make the most of the October Tuscan sun. I enjoy myself immensely, despite managing to narrowly avoid falling into the age-old trap of squabbling couples when one tries to teach the other something and inevitably fails. This is largely thanks to my happy sense of the ridiculous as, on reaching the heated point of frustration, I fling my club down onto the ground, having missed the ball entirely for the seventh time in a row (a talent in itself) and then burst out laughing.

After lunch it is finally time to explore the mesmerising maze of ancient rock formations and natural pools of the grotto that lies beneath the hotel grounds. This being the land of Dante, the caves are named after the Divine Comedy, beginning with the caressing warmth of Heaven and then gradually progressing deeper into the increasing heat, through Purgatory into Hell. Shiny and dripping, I watch my partner squirm slightly as the temperature and humidity rises, but I find Hell to be my idea of Heaven as that fantastic heat reaches the deepest knots of tension in my body and completely dissolves them. From here we wander dazedly from pool to pool, sinking into the silky waters reflecting the orange glow of the cave walls and I feel as though we are going through a timeless ritual of rebirth, our very own Renaissance. This is certainly how I feel once we finally emerge. Radiant and reluctant to break the spell by speaking, we simply make our way back to the sanctuary of our room, silent and content.

We spend the rest of our stay in a magical time capsule, sleeping and eating as and when we feel, and spending hours immersed in the wondrous waters or walking in the stunning parks. Once it is time to go home I feel as though I might have been away weeks, rather than just a few days, and we promise each other to return whenever we feel the need to be born again.