Contursi Terme is a small spa town in the Sele valley, about 75 km southeast of Naples, where sulphurous and bicarbonate springs have been exploited for therapeutic use since antiquity. Several thermal hotels and spa facilities cluster here — the Terme di Contursi being the main draw — attracting Italians seeking treatment for skin, respiratory, and digestive conditions. The atmosphere is resolutely Italian-therapeutic rather than international-luxury: think rubber flip-flops and a serious attitude toward cura thermale.
The town itself is unremarkable, but the valley setting is pleasant and the pace is slow. The Sele Valley below town is good for easy walking and birdwatching along the Tanagro River, and the hilltop town of Oliveto Citra a few kilometres north makes an easy afternoon excursion. Contursi serves as a practical base for visiting the Greek temples of Paestum (35km) and the Cilento National Park.