Hotel Terme Due Torri ★★★★★

The Hotel Terme Due Torri is set in beautiful gardens with winding paths, colourful shrubs and manicured hedges. Classical marble statues stand serenely under the trees, and next to the garden is a huge area of parkland where there are the remains of the original thermal spa dating from the 8th century BCE. It is a gorgeous and peaceful setting. The gardens surround two lovely pools set amongst the greenery, one small oval one and a larger rectangular pool with a rounded end surrounded by inviting sunbeds and shades.

When you step inside, the central hall is grand in a way that only the Italians can pull off properly: patterned marble floor, pillars and chandeliers, mirrors with carved surrounds, and classic antique tables and damask chairs set us up for our stay. Oriental rugs adorn the floor and huge precious vases, some as works of art in their own right and some filled with bright foliage, stand proudly around the edges. The staff are hospitable and friendly, and their greeting made us feel genuinely welcome as we were shown to our room.

Our bedroom was a symphony of colourful Italian style. There was a huge bed with blue damask cover and matching headboard, crimson antique chair and ottoman and generously draped blue curtains which were pulled back to let in floods of Italian sunshine. Beyond the curtains, French doors opened on to a big furnished balcony overlooking the gardens. The bathroom was unbelievably huge as well. It had a separate enclosed shower, and the bath and walls were all lined with Italian mottled marble in hues of soft rose, yellow and burnt orange glowing together as if in some subterranean cavern.

When we went to dinner we were impressed with the hotel’s dedication to healthy food. It was delicious, fresh and distinctively Italian, but chosen with the sort of care you wish you could use at home to provide balanced, healthy meals. That evening we lingered on our balcony with a glass of wine under the Italian stars and knew our choice of hotel had been excellent! We slept very well in that huge comfortable bed.

Next day we were even more impressed with the hotel’s dedication to health. The breakfast buffet bar had a colourful inviting display of fresh fruit and crunchy vegetables, Italian breads and cheeses and cured meats. We didn’t spend too long over breakfast though; we were keen to explore the rest of the establishment. The indoor pool is palatial, filled with light from windows at high and low levels. It looks out on to the greenery of the gardens and is surrounded by a big terrace where you can sit with your latte and watch the action.

But it is in the spa that you really appreciate the dedication to wellness. The range of treatments is comprehensive and a relaxing massage followed by a thermal mud treatment was a whole lot better than it sounds! We both felt fresh, invigorated and full of bounce, ready for our opportunity to explore the lovely old city of Padua before hitting the road again.