☰Montecatini Terme

Due to its high tourist traffic, the town of Montecatini Terme is teeming with bars and cafes of all styles. Some specialize in beer, some have incredible wine lists and others will have a great selection of cocktails. Themes vary as well; there are cozy Irish pubs along with large, luxurious cafes with pools and tinted lights. In addition to independent bars and cafes, there are generally some in every hotel. These can be nice as well, but they tend to be more expensive.

Most have extensive drink lists along with a few snacks and appetizers to choose from to munch on while sipping on your drink. Being in Italy, the drink prices are quite high compared to other countries, at around 6 to 8 Euros per drink. However, the quality of most bars and cafes in Montecatini Terme is very high, and you get what you pay for.

Usually any type of clothing is acceptable at bars, but be aware that most Italians like to dress up a bit when they go out. If you dress more formally, you'll fit in better with the local crowd.

Recommended Pubs and Cafes

For a summer night out, La Cascina is an amazing pub and restaurant. You can go out into the lush garden and enjoy some live music while sipping on a glass of famous Italian wine. It's more expensive than other places, but the Tuscan food is delicious, as are the original meals created by the pub itself. The cheapest food on the menu is pizza. There's also a large smoking room in La Cascina. Another place perfect for wine lovers is Syrah Wine Cafe 'Di Sichi Massimiliano.

Beer is the specialty of The Hop Store - Irish Pub. This pub is cozy and friendly, with all of the expected imported beers straight from Ireland. Guiness, made in Ireland since 1759, is the most popular beer at The Hop Store, and the only black beer available. In the blonde beer category, they offer Harp and Ayinger, which are both fresh and thirst-quenching on a hot summer day. For a rich treat, a bright red Kilkenny is the way to go. As for food, The Hop Store offers all of the typical pub grub including hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos and fries, along with some more Italian options like focaccia and piadina with nutella.

If you're a music fan, try out Gambrinus Music Cafe, featuring music of every genre. The drink menu is extensive. Pre-dinner drinks include margaritas, gin and tonics, bloody marys, gin lemons and more. Drinks cost 6 Euros. After-dinner drinks are also available for around the same price. Wines cost 5 to 7 Euros per glass.

For a taste of luxury, The Lido - Le Panteraie is the hot spot disco, restaurant and bar in Montecatini Terme. You can go for a drink during happy hour, have a buffet dinner at the pool or rooftop terrace, listen to tons of music with tinged lights to accentuate each song or just dance the night away in the disco.

If you´re going to be in Montecatini Terme for a few days, but want to see more of Italy, there are plenty of day trips that you can make. Here are some of the closest and some of the most interesting cities you can visit within easy distance of Montecatini Terme.

Pistoia - 17 km

In just a twenty minute drive you can reach the town of Pistoia. You can also take a fairly quick train ride, but the bus does take quite a bit longer. Once there you can stop at the cathedral to see the stone altar that dates back six centuries. The Madonna dell´Umilta is topped with a dome that is very similar to the Florence cathedral dome. The town hall is also impressive and contains a museum as well. The terracotta reliefs at the old Ceppo Hospital are worth seeing, as is the view from the bell tower.

Lucca - 33.3 km

Just under thirty minutes away is Lucca, with its impressive medieval walls. They´re arguably the best preserved city walls in Italy, and you can walk the entire way around the city from the top of the walls. San Michele Church is built upon an old Roman Forum, and San Martino Cathedral is an impressive structure. The Baptistry contains many archaeological artifacts, and the Piazza dellÁnfiteatro still contains ruins of the Roman amphitheater around which it was built. Opera enthusiasts will also want to visit the Puccini House Museum. Like Pistoia, the train runs to Lucca, but the bus takes a bit longer.

Florence - 51.2 km

One of the most impressive day trips you can take is the 50 minute drive to Florence. The bus and the train also run regularly, so don´t despair if you haven´t got a car. Once there you can take in the sight of the Cathedral and its dome, the first built since ancient Roman times. The Academy contains Michaelangelo´s David, a big draw to the city. The Baptistry´s mosaic ceiling is definitely worth seeing, as is the Santa Croce Church containing the tombs of the great Italian masters. You can also tour the Medici´s two palaces located in Florence.

Pisa - 54.7 km

To get to Pisa requires several transfers via bus or train, but is only an hour and ten minute drive away. There you can see the famous Leaning Tower started in 1173. The Duomo is even older and is interesting in its shape of a Latin cross. If you make it into the Baptistry you can stand on the pulpit or near any of the walls and sing a few notes to hear the incredible echo effect. The medieval walls surrounding the city aren´t nearly as impressive as those in Lucca, but they´re still worth seeing. You can also check out the cemetery which has tombs dating ** - 132 km

The drive is just under an hour and a half, and the bus and train both run regularly from Montecatini Terme. Here you can see the huge, unfinished Basilica di San Petronino and its meridian line floor mark. There are two towers left in the city that have a lean similar to that of Pisa´s famous tower, and you can ascend these for a great view. The Museo Civico Medioevale houses stone and artwork from the middle ages, and the Archaeology Museum is very interesting. The Pinacoteca Nazionale houses some of Raphael´s best works.

Contributors October 17, 2009

The Tuscan town of Montecatini Terme has long been known for its incredible restaurant tradition. Many chefs specializing in traditional Tuscan dishes have gone on to be internationally recognized, such as Sirio Maccioni. Other great chefs have stayed in Montecatini Terme, continuing the regional art of cooking over the generations. As many local ingredients as possible are used to keep dishes fresh and savory. Restaurant prices and specialties vary, depending on whether you want a full course meal or just a quick bite to eat. In general, food is rather expensive in Italy, but it is still possible to find some great cheaper places as long as you're not expecting perfection. In most restaurants, every dish is at least $15 USD per dish, although during the low season prices often drop to more affordable levels.

Local Specialties

Typical Tuscan meals are made up of various courses. The first course is generally a thick soup or cream made from local vegetables or meats. The second course is commonly some sort of game or fried eels. A popular appetizer is "fettunta" which is simply a slice of deliciously grilled homemade bread soaked in olive oil and garlic. Veal muzzle stew is a Tuscan specialty as is "mallegatto", a cured meat made with pig blood. Sorana beans are common, as well, and are cooked until soft and tender.

Drinks

Of course, being in Tuscany, it is essential to try out the incredible wines of the region. Wine is, afterall, one of the things Italy is famous for. Try a rich red wine from Montalbano or a light, fruity white wine from Montearlo. Tuscan table wine can be found in every restaurant, there are cheap varieties as well as more expensive, quality wines. Beer and cocktails are available anywhere as alternatives to wine.

Desserts

Montecatini Terme is full of tasty little pasteries overflowing with fresh, ripe berries and cream. Thin, sweet wafers are typical desserts, too, as is Schiacciata Con Uva, or sweet grape bread, Torta Mantovana, a traditional cake, and berlingozzo.

Restaurants

The expensive, luxury restaurants are notably classy and elegant, with dishes prepared with impeccable style and display. An excellent choice for a fancy restaurant in Montecatini Terme is Restaurant La Polveriera. It has a wide variety of seafood dishes, veal, specialty meats, and traditional dishes, but it is best known for its fresh seafood and sauces. The service is amazing with friendly waiters, and the chef even comes out to mingle with the customers. As an added bonus, the restaurant even has panoramic views of the valley, perfect for dining out on a summer evening. A meal will cost you $30 to $40 USD.

Cheaper options are always available. They tend to sell more "fast food" type fare including pizzas, lasagnas, ravioli, etc. However there are some restaurants with reasonable prices and fresh food as well. An example of this is the Albergo Ristorante Pizzaria Bolognese. It offers many types of freshly baked pizzas and Florence style meats at anywhere from $10 to $20 USD.

Montecatini is a perhaps the largest of Tuscany’s spa towns, and is also one of the most famous. It has been celebrated for its waters for more than 400 years, and has been graced by royalty and aristocracy. For anyone looking for Montecatini Terme transportation, there are a number of options available.

Public Transport

Due to its popularity, Montecatini Terme has regular bus services around the city, operated by several different bus companies. It should not be too difficult to locate the bus service that you need. In fact, tourists may be spoiled for choice.

Trains can easily take the tourist from Monticatini Terme to Pisa or Florence. Tickets are relatively cheap, with a trip to Piza costing 3.30 EUR (single). Tickets to Florence cost around 3.10 EUR for a single.

Going It Alone

Tourists may also wish to rent a car, as this allows more freedom than a bus or train. It is possible to rent a car at the airport, which is probably the best way to rent, although cars can also be rented in Montecatini Therme after arrival. Just be sure to remember that it is a popular tourist destination, and cars may be at a premium.

By car: Highway A11 "Firenze-Mare", exit "Montecatini Terme".

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Montecatini Terme ITA **

**By air: "Galilei" Airport of Pisa (62 Km) or

"A. Vespucci" Airport of Florence (41 Km). Taxi service provided by the hotel.**

By train: Firenze-Viareggio or Pisa Airport-Lucca-Firenze. A train every hour arrives at "Montecatini-Monsummano" station as well as at "Montecatini Centro".

Being a luxurious spa town, Montecatini Terme has shopping opportunities galore to please the constant stream of tourists that flood the area. From major brand names, to long lasting food products, to small, unique, Italian souvenirs, you'll find basically anything you're looking for in the town. Famous brands like Armani, Valentino, and Calvin Kleine are easily found in the downtown area, which is the major shopping center. The stores are smaller than those, for example, in Florence or Rome, and the selection is less varied, however, the prices are somewhat cheaper than those in bigger cities; although they are still expensive on a more general scale. If you, like most of the population, can't afford this upscale shopping experience, you can still enjoy window shopping. Fashion clothing stores, shoe shops, lingerie shops, and Italian beauty parlors abound as well downtown. Since Montecatini Terme is a spa town, meaning a place people go to relax and focus on health and beauty, it is assumed that demand for other services and stores focused on beauty will be in high demand, too.

Shopping Locations

The main commercial streets of Montecatini Terme are in the central part of the lower city. These streets include Corso Matteotti, Viale Verdi, Viale 4 Novembre, and Corso Roma, as well as several others. These streets are lined completely with small shops and boutiques of both famous brands and relatively unknown brands. There are tiny gift shops as well, where you can get souvenirs and postcards.

Markets

Apart from the standard stores and boutiques, Montecatini Terme also has a variety of markets at different times offering tons of products for cheap prices. Obviously, due to all the tourists, the prices in the markets of this town are a little higher than in other areas, but know that it's okay to bargain a little. In Via Maratona, in Piazzale Leopoldo, there is a traditional market every Thursday offering foods, gifts, clothing, art, etc. If you are interested in antiques, there is an antique market the first Sunday of every month located in Piazza 20 Settembre. These markets are fantastic to go to even if you don't plan on buying anything. The advertising of the different vendors basically consists of them singing out their wares, it's a great cultural experience. Also, for a short lasting "souvenir", you can buy one of Montecatini Terme's famouse waffles made with egg and sugar to munch on as you walk around looking at potential gift.

For more places to buy cheap souvenirs and other unique items, don't miss the Grocco Market or the shopping areas in Montecatini Alto, the upper part of town and historica district. The Grocco Market is large and has excellent bargains, even better than at other markets. Montecatini Alto has more historic items, to remind you to the town's rich history. There is one item that you should be sure to take back, cialde in a can. It is a traditional biscuit of the area that stays perfectly preserved for a long time.

If you're looking for something more active to do between the spa trips, Montecatini offers quite a bit in the way of sports and outdoor activities ranging from low-impact, such as golfing or the race tracks, to mountain biking and tennis. You're sure to find a bit of everything you like to do in the great outdoors.

Hiking

There are scores of hiking trails throughout the hills surrounding Montecatini Terme. One popular trek is the trip from lower Montecatini Terme to upper Montecatini Alto. If you're feeling frisky you can skip the cable car and hot foot it up the roads. Going up takes a bit of work and a bit of time, but the path is mostly shaded by surrounding trees and the cut of the hill. Ask at your hotel for other hiking options.

Biking

You can rent a bicycle from most any hoteland head out to the same paths in the hills that are good for hiking. If you want something more challenging you can rent a proper mountain bike and head to the trickier paths. If you ask at the Astoria hotel, you'll find information on the local mountain biking club.

Jogging

The Parco delle Terme and the Parco delle Panteraie are both excellent for jogging, with the Parco delle Terme offering views of the spas in the area. You can also picnic in either of the parks, and in the Panteraie you can stop at the deer reserve for some up close and personal time with nature.

Golfing

There is one golf course in the area, the Montecatini Golf Club, located just outside of town on Via dei Brogi. The course is challenging and a tad on the pricey side, but offers 18 excellent holes. You can phone ahead for a tee time at +39 0572 62218.

Spelunking

Grotta Maona is one of Italy's famous caves and the only one with two pools that feed in from the hot springs. There are fantastic stalagmites and stalactites, and numerous rock formations. The path is well lit, but be sure to wear rubber soled shoes and perhaps bring some waterproof clothing. The cave is open from April through October. You can reach them for more information at +39 0572 74581.

Race Tracks

The Sesana Race Track of Montecatini Terme is excellent for a bit of fun and some gambling if it floats your boat. Also open from April through October, the track was built to be perfect and offers some of the fastest racing in Europe.

Clubs

You'll find several municipal clubs in the area that offer indoor and outdoor swimming, tennis courts and trapshooting. These are open to the public for a fee. Stop in at the Hotel Mediterraneo for more information or call them at +39 0572 71321.

For Kids

If you're traveling with children, there are several activities that cater to the young. There's a miniature golf course that's always popular with both the young and the young at heart. In nearby Collodi, just northwest of Montecatini Terme, is the Parco di Pinnochio, which offers playgrounds and a fairytale theme park. Finally, in Montecatini itself is Termeland, a pay as you play park located on Via Bicchierai.