Guide to Monsummano Terme

"If fairy-tale surroundings and uninterrupted R&R are your idea of holiday heaven, you can't go wrong with this little gem."

If you're hell-bent on heavy-duty relaxation, this dinky spa town will be right up your holiday street. Snuggled, as it is, into the 'Valley of the Mists' in northern Tuscany, it's little wonder it's renowned for its vapour-filled grottos - which act as amazing natural saunas. Once unpacked head straight for the steamy caverns under Grotta Giusti Natural Spa Residence - where draped in snug robes, you take in the hot, mineral-rich vapours. Lie back among the breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites. Take some deep breaths. And let the curative air relax you - you'll feel like a new person. It's an unmissable experience that will get you right into the Monsummano mindset. Talking of the town, it's well worth roving around. Less touristy than its better known neighbour Montecatini Terme it's an unpretentious place with 10th century roots. Wander around and you'll find jewels like the 16th century church on the main piazza. Ponder its pretty fresco-covered portico and tiny museum, bulging with medieval paintings. And whilst you relax in the square over a frothy cappuccino, check out the statue of Giuseppe Giusti, the Monsummano-born poet. You might take some prodding get up off your sunbed, but make sure you do. Wind your way up twisty mountain roads to the abandoned village of Monsummano Alto. Deserted in the 1500s, its haunting piazza and guard tower are lifeless apart from dozing cats. And while you're here, bask in the movie-set views of the surrounding hillsides dusted with medieval villages. They'll whet your appetite for more exploring – unless your time's taken up by permanent underground saunas that is.

Find the cheapest late deals to Monsummano Terme leaving in the next six weeks.