There comes a moment, immersed in the warm thermal pools of Fonteverde, as your eyes wander across the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia, when you remember that wellbeing is not a luxury but a form of attention. In San Casciano dei Bagni, that realization comes almost effortlessly. Perhaps it is the thermal waters that have flowed here for thousands of years, the quiet of the Tuscan countryside, or simply the feeling that time moves a little more slowly.
When it first opened, Fonteverde became Italy’s first spa resort to redefine thermal bathing, shifting it from an almost exclusively therapeutic practice towards a broader understanding of wellbeing as a way of life. With its spectacular pools overlooking one of Tuscany’s most iconic landscapes, it continues to evolve, developing treatments that combine scientific research with ancient Eastern traditions within a holistic approach that considers the individual as a whole. Here, wellbeing emerges from the balance of many elements: food, landscape, rest, technology, thermal therapies and, above all, the time we choose to dedicate to ourselves. It is a philosophy shared by Grotta Giusti and Bagni di Pisa, the other two Tuscan spa destinations within Italian Hospitality Collection, all united by the enduring gift of their thermal waters.
Among the people who have shaped Fonteverde’s identity is Dipu, a master of Eastern healing disciplines who has welcomed guests from around the world for more than twenty years. Born in a Himalayan village, he treats more than 3,000 people every year and has been named by Tatler among the world’s five finest therapists.
He was also one of the first practitioners to introduce Ayurveda to this corner of Tuscany, just a couple of hours from Rome and Florence, helping transform San Casciano dei Bagni into one of Europe’s most authentic destinations for contemporary Eastern wellness—without the need to travel as far as India.
According to Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine developed more than five thousand years ago, health depends on the balance of the three doshas—Vata, Pitta and Kapha—which embody the five natural elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. When that balance is disrupted, both body and mind begin sending signals that we too often ignore. This is where Dipu’s work begins: helping people recognise those signals and learn to listen not only to physical sensations, but also to emotions and subtler responses. It is an exercise in awareness that is meant to continue long after the stay has ended, becoming part of everyday life.
For this reason, every programme is unique. Before beginning, each guest meets a multidisciplinary team—including a physician, a dietitian and a cosmetologist—who create a personalised programme based on the individual’s physical and psychological needs. The shared goal is simple: to leave Fonteverde feeling more energised and with a deeper sense of inner balance.
The five-day, four-night Equilibrium Ayurvedic Self-Awareness programme, running from Tuesday to Saturday, combines ancient healing traditions with contemporary wellness practices. Treatments range from Ayurvedic herbal scrubs to Dipu’s signature Sesto Senso massage, which blends Indian, Chinese and Thai techniques while using fire as a purifying element. Alongside these time-honoured therapies are cutting-edge treatments such as cryotherapy, where three minutes at –85°C can stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation, improve sleep and deliver a range of immediate physiological benefits. The programme also includes meditative breathing practices and, naturally, nutrition, an essential part of the experience. While inspired by Ayurvedic principles, the cuisine remains unmistakably Tuscan. Seasonal local ingredients reflect the belief that wellbeing is inseparable from a meaningful connection with place and respect for its identity.
This philosophy is also expressed through the work of the resort’s new Executive Chef, Vito Quarto, whose contemporary cooking celebrates Tuscany’s rich culinary heritage while remaining perfectly aligned with Fonteverde’s vision of authenticity, balance and holistic wellbeing.
Of course, five days are not enough to change a life. And in reality, setting aside an entire week for oneself is not always possible. It is from this awareness that Wellness in Calendario was created, a programme through which Italian Hospitality Collection encourages guests to weave moments of wellbeing throughout the year, scheduling them into their diaries just as they would any other important commitment.
Because that is ultimately the point. Stepping away from daily routines from time to time, changing perspective, breathing in a different landscape and allowing oneself to be cared for is not about escaping everyday life. It is about learning to live it with greater balance. And perhaps the rarest luxury today is not finding time for wellbeing once, but making it a lasting habit.
ASK THE EDITOR
What is the first thing you did when you arrived?
Try to best find my room, there is so much space (and not so many rooms) that you better fix it from the beginning
Describe your room in three words.
Contemporary. The right size. And there is an unmissable a desk to work or simply use my computer.
Packing essentials: what must we remember?
A bathing suite, comfortable sportswear for your wellness sessions, sneakers and flip flop if white, flat hotel slippers are not your cup of tea)
Walk us through your ideal evening here.
Order the bar’s signature drink and let it go
Any local recommendations?
Taste local wine and visit the amazing archeological site