Predicament

A dilemma: 

What to do when soaking in natural waters is your hobby and you are located far-far away from such opportunities? 

Or what to do when you've been made curious by other natural water and/or heat based therapies?

Or you notice that the effects of soaking are to be equated by other more obvious choices?

Then sometimes you'll opt for what might be perceived as second choice, but actually is an all new experience, which need not to be thermal related. 

So that's how we come to slowly become fans of public sauna's.

With this in mind the Hôtel Le Moulin De La Wantzenau, located just north of Strasbourg (Alsace region) was another of these places we actively sought out, as a case of French sauna bathing experience. And as being a smaller resort, the intended stay is perceived to be much better (usually) than the various hotel chains. And as it's located close to the French border and Strasbourg is the Ville Européenne one could expect a more liberal sauna culture, akin to France's north/northwestern neighbours. Because, if you haven't noticed yet, we are more fans of liberal/socialable bathing opportunities.

The hotel itself is highly acclaimed: an old watermill which has been tastefully reconstructed with considerable attention to details. For instance, in the hallway are small windows in the floor through which you can view the rushing water which passes under the building.

It's a bit out of the local town, so if you prefer to stay in, you'll be dependent on what's on offer. That said, a vegetarian curry was cooked up, despite France having a (well-earned alas) reputation for lack of vegetarian options. Overall customer service was excellent.

Lost

Then over to the wellness on offer, as that what's interests you (and us) the most.

From their own website (in English):

'Come and enjoy a true voyage of discovery in the heart of the country!

Our spa and relaxation area, built from natural materials, provides a delightful break and unique experience with its forest, nature and river themed areas..

You can relax in a 300 m² intimate, exclusive setting, with a sauna decked with wooden loungers, and which opens onto the rural landscape, a 400 year-old millstone that is now the seat in the hammam, an outside terrace spa built from natural wood, opening directly onto the gardens and surrounding natural landscape'.

So what did it entail? 

A single hallway with various amenities which connect through. 

First off changing room / bathroom (nothing special), then on your right: a relax space dominated by straw (photo below) and the hamman. 

coco_spo

Échappée du vendredi fin d'après-midi 🤗

Spa, dîner 🥂

Magnifique endroit et de qualité

#lemoulindelawantzenau#alsacemylove

While on the left are seperate showers and the sauna. In the corner a larger ensuite relax space. And outside an in-built large jacuzzi on a wooden veranda opening up to a garden.

Permission

How was the experience?

Well, I'd like to say that the efforts put into details ensured this was an excellent experience, but somewhere the details seem to have conquered the customer experience.

Let's start with clothing expectations. I had expected clothesfree was the way to go; there's nothing to contradict this. Their own website notes (in original English):

'Access to the SPA, from 16 years of age / bathing trunks not permitted'.

The German original refers to 

'Bermuda und Badeshorts nicht zugelassen'.

The photo's from the website could also  be intepreted as such, there are no clothes in sight (but many towel encapsuled models). 

While as we are in France one could experience a clothed situation, it seems what can be expected here. 

As we were just 4 kms from the border of liberal thinking Germany and it was not a very open-to-public experience (the public from outside the hotel were required to pay €49 for three hours; that might explain the lack of shares from outside experiences) one could presume the impression made was indeed correct.

But it was very clothes de rigueur.

Other points:

• Shower water pressure was poor.
• The sauna could be hotter and it was noticable that the glass wall leaked heat big time as well as the door failing to close correctly.
• The hamman was not very on temp.
• The outside jacuzzi could be warmer.
• Early closing time, even for hotel guests.

Other users (just a few) were not helping the experience either; loud and very inconsiderate: one person entered the sauna, dumped a bucket of water on the heater and then left two minutes later! Is this the French way of sauna?

Notes

Overall reviews gave this a 4.6 stars (from 300+ reviewers) on google, though not much on the wellness experience.

Booking.com gives the hotel an 8.7 (from 250+ reviews), other than comments on the spa exterior, no sauna user.

Tripadvisor notes 4.5 stars from just below 200 reviews, again only the brief remark on the spa, none recent on the wellness experience.

Their own Facebook page rates it as 4.7 stars from 230 plus reviews.

What sticks out is that virtually all are French guests / visitors with little real experiences of the wellness itself, most probably hotel guests, easily impressed even. Question mark. No sauna fans? But very liberal in dealing out compliments.

So what did we learn?

The French sauna experience is (based on what we experienced here) nowhere near to the more pleasant experiences of said neighbours above. Is this perception solely due to the abundance of clothes? 

Details do not always ensure that the experience is likewise; maybe I'm just too practical to be taken in by all schmuck.

florencetihaywalter, fully clothed in the designer sauna space:

A ce week-end pour nous dans ce cadre plus que parfait, merci mon amour ❤️

@lemoulindelawantzenau

#weekend #spa #detente #amour

So, I don't know how this sauna review section will pan out, so let's see if we can compare the experiences by adding a number to the visit. Six out of ten here?Based on impresssions near-perfect, but the practical experience itself was a let-down; I probably wouldn't adivise anyone to visit this hotel based solely on it's wellness spa. So a six seems fair.

Bubbles

Apologies. Yet another post on Baden's baden. This time we are going to share the free soaking experience to be had. Basically what this blog is about.

But let's see what we have posted over the past two years concerning Baden and it's thermal heritage:

• Relating Baden's Fortyseven Wellness Therme experience (26-9-22).
• Extensive news on Bad zum Raben crowd-funded purchase and Baden bathing developments (8-8-2022).
• News on the opening of Fortyseven Wellness Therme plus start up issues as well as the free bathing initiatives (8-1-2022).
• Short item on Roman finds (7-7-2021) while construction of Fortyseven Wellness Therme took place.

With reference to what's already been shared here (above), I'll try to move forward and describe how the free thermal experience really feels like.

Breathing fresh air into the millennea old thermal experience of Baden has been undertaken with the construction of the Fortyseven Wellness Therme over what has been the local thermal source. 

Additionally nearby apartments were  constructed and along the Limmat river a continuation of the riverside pedestrian boulevard took place, but minus the beautiful greenery elsewhere evident. Thus a new thermal district has come into existence.

Unfortunately this new set up contains huge amounts of cement and stone, not really enticing. But it  looks modern. And simultaneously fake.

As part of the rejuvenation the original thermal source (Limmatquelle Thermalquelle) which is located directly along the Limmat riverside, received a redevelopment:

Here you can witness the waters bubbling up. The Baden town website notes on this:

'Here, Baden's thermal water bubbles visibly to the surface.

What has been hidden for a long time is finally visible again: Baden's thermal water. The thermal water that represents Baden's origins and the birthplace of Baden's spirit. It is flowing powerfully out of the Limmat spring.

The redesigned spring pavilion encloses the only visible spring fountain in the public area. This bubbling fountain stands symbolically for the reawakening of the baths'.

Rush

From the Limmatquelle, continuing downstream just beyond the west turn of the Limmat river itself, three tubs have been constructed: deep, less deep and shallow. They are also correspondingly (too) hot, hot and warm. On a Saturday summer evening there were about 10-12 persons enjoying the baths, though the hottest tub was conspiciously empty most of this time.

The tubs are built right at the river edge, 2-3m above the Limmat river itself. 

One soaker (who has just enjoyed the the hot tub) cooled off by jumping over the river railing, heading into the chilly river water. It wasn't designed as such, the Limmat's river flow quite often too forceful to be safely enjoyed. But others have done likewise and now a rope is tied to the railing, enabling a return back to the (hot) tubs.

On the opposite river bank directly perpendicular to Baden's baths, there is the bath of Ennetbaden. Probably with less tourists, though note that both soaks as well as Baden city itself are not attracting many foreign tourists.

There are a few benches closeby where users leave their clothes behind after changing (more or less discreetly). 

Rinse oneself off, then head to the middle bath which is pleasantly warm and deep enough. 

After being heated up, it's the hottest and deepest pool that needs to be challlenged. 

All the time, bathers are coming and going, as well as pedestrians passing. Lots of chatter, while at the same time one can enjoy the views over the rushing Limmat river towards Ennetbaden.

All 'n all, a very good vibe by which these small baths act as a good socializer.

Occupancy

Sharing from what can be delved from internet. 

Starting off with Baden's no. 1 info on soaking site, Bagno Populare, which is a website dedicated to crowd interest in Baden's thermal resouces. Translated:

'The two hot fountains have been open since November 6th, 2021 and are operated by the municipalities of Baden and Ennetbaden. They are warm every day from around 7 a.m. to around 10 p.m. The pools are between 37 and 43°C (depending on the weather) and are fed by undiluted, natural thermal spring water from the Schwanenquelle (Ennetbaden) or Heissem Stein/Limmat- and St. Verenaquelle (Baden). Every Monday , Wednesday and Friday they are cleaned and cannot be used at this moment'.

It notes a number of rules / regulations. These rules are also available on the Baden town website. 

Bagno Populare adds:

'The thermal water fountains were developed by the Bagni Popolari association and donated by the local community of Baden and the community of Ennetbaden. The wells are now entrusted to your personal care. Please treat and use them with appropriate care so that everyone can enjoy this wonderful gift! We thank you!

Google has reviews of both soaks. 

That of Baden notes a healthy 4.7 stars from 24 reviews. A good review:

'Hier ist das Wasser ungefiltert, ungekühlt, einfach Original. Das Wasser kommt ca. 47 Grad heiss raus und kühlt jedes Becken etwas ab. Das Angebot besteht nur aus 3 Betontrögen, ist jedoch kostenlos. Keine Umziehkabine, jedoch hat es in 50m Entfernung eine öffentliche Toilette. Ab 21 Uhr ist das Wasser abgestellt und die Becken kühlen ab. Die Belegung schwankt enorm 😋 mal geniesst man es alleine, mal sind es über ein Dutzend Personen. Da die Wannen nicht gross sind, füllen 4 Personen eine'

The Ennetbaden bath (photo below, taken from Baden) has fewer reviews (9) but with a marginal better score (4.8 stars). There's this feedback:

'Um die 40 Grad. 1 Becken. 5m entfernt ein sauberes WC / Umzieraum. Alles kostenlos & sehr gepflegt. Nebenann Sitzgelegenheiten mit Fussbad'.

Both are so new that Tripadvisor has no mention of these.

There's even an extensive Wikipedia entry solely dedicated to Baden's thermal resources, though only in German. Google translate assists a lot:

'Of the total of 21 springs, 18 are in Baden and three in Ennetbaden. The water has an average temperature of 46.6 °C and has a particularly high proportion of calcium and sulphates. With a total mineralization of 4450 mg/l, it is the richest in minerals in the entire country'.

Probably, if you're more interested in the history of the thermal baths, head here.

Another great source of historic info on Baden's Badkultur are articles published by archaeologist Andrea Schaer. For instance this published (Dec. 30, 2021) on the website of Stiftung Baukultur Schweiz which goes deeper into the background of the current construction for thermal purposes. Plenty of explanantion. 

Other of her articles concern more the various historic periods when the baths were in full schwung. A recent article (Sep. 22, 2022) for the Swiss National Museum describes the conditions of Baden's baths during the Middle Ages.

Finally, I'd like to add is that the addition of these free-to-use baths in themselves are just a very small development, but the feelgood factor towards Baden's own citizens is huge. In the times I passed here, there was always something going on with considerable social interaction. 

Public involvement concerning the whole redevelopment process has probably been enhanced by the main project being delayed too often. This meant there was sufficient time for the general public (read those passionate enough) to organize themselves and express their wishes. 

The result was increased cooperation between the public / private institutions concerned and public interest groups. It's also sustainable: the public groups are now actively seeking to gain access to more waters (read purchasing an older thermal establishment) and redevelop them such that they also become part of Baden's current thermal heritage simultaneously creating a public good (art installations / access to all).

A good lesson for all public institutions involved with (re-)developement whereever.

A good video of construction of and the recent opening of the Heisser Brunnen as well as explaining the philosophy behind the baths:

Strike off

On my wish-to-visit list of natural hot springs in Europe had been the Bagni di Craveggia.

A rather remote Italian hot spring, though not too difficult to reach, if only using the Switzerland route.

Run down and ruined it seemed. But partially renovated, for touristic curiosity; it's not a drive-in soak. Most shared photo material from here shows twin tubs (as above!), just beyond the ruins on the river bank. Best view to be had.

But where are the soakers?

Fact check:

1. It's not a hot spring, only 27-28°C; that's warmish in winter, luke warm in summer.

2. The ruins are not really ruins anymore.

Without much thought to all the info available on the Bagni de Craveggia, we set out on an early September afternoon, the sun already dipping beyond the mountains of the Onsernone valley.

Heading to the end of the road through the valley is a feat in itself. 

From the south Swiss town of Locarno one heads first north, then west up Onsernone valley, the road becoming alarmingly narrower as we pass through many smaller villages. Forty-five minutes after leaving Locarno we are in the small village of Spruga, end of the public road and where the bus returns. There's a small parking area, a good map and a number of trails diverging out beyond, below and above Spruga.

The easiest way to continue to the Bagni di Craveggia is to keep following the road, which is now pleasantly off-limits to motorized traffic. 

Half an hour later, you can take a bridge to cross the Isorno river:

From here it's quite straightforward: cross the bridge, walk up the other bank and from here a path drops into the back of the Bagni buildings: 

But you can also stay on the road. Then one ends on the river bank directly opposite the Bagni. No bridge here. To get to the baths, one needs to ford the rather swift flowing river.

Standing on the edge of Isorno river and looking back you see the two tubs and a number of buildings steps wise above here:

khan.kublai from the opposite river bank:

Sentieri della liberazione

Highlights

You can wander around the former buildings, renovation has made these ruins safe. 

The lowest level (where the bathtubs stand before) is the only interesting level. There's:

* a changing room (1); basically a corner with a door in front, 

* some older (unusable) tubs (following),

* a tap from where one can drink water, 

* a kneipp outdoor tub (following),

* some plaquettes describing the past set up and 

* a huge tub which holds the water from the source inside. Don't quite understand the reason of its existence.

Our curiosity quelled, we test the waters. 

The outside tub could contain thermal waters, but the low in and out flows suggest that the temperature is probably nowhere near the 27-28°C. A full body plunge confirms that these waters are hardly any warmer than the ambient temperature alas!

The inner tank though is closer to what one would expect. Besides the struggle to get in, the temperature is doable, though even at the stated temperature (above) it can't be really qualified as thermal at all.

Peace

I didn't come across many recent experiences, most findings though are published on walking trail sites. Such as this from Outdooractive:

'The hot spring Bagni di Craveggia can be reached from Spruga (Switzerland) walking on a blocked paved road for about 40 minutes and from Craveggia (Italy) through a mountain trail. This trail, along the “acqua e pace” itinerary, is difficult and requires hiking equipment: hiking boots, trekking poles, etc. The access is free and it takes about 4 hours to reach the hot springs. Visitors are requested to respect nature and security regulations.

The two new pools are always open from April until November. The road from Spruga is not cleaned during the winter'.

Tripadvisor reviewers note 4.5 stars from just 8 (German speaking) reviews. 

Google reviewers (125) give it 4.3 stars; again many German speakers, but in general a better choice of reviewers. Most though seemed disappointed the waters were not hot (enough).

There is an experience from before the renovations (travelettes, Nov. 29, 2011), nothing revealing.

A bit more background info. 

Starting off with the expansive Bagni di Craveggia Wikipedia entry, from which there's already quite a lot to share. 

A synopsis: back in the Middle ages, there was the first mention of the thermal baths, which then belonged to the federal area of Switzerland. Early 19th century saw the area ceded to Italy and in 1819 a six story hotel was built. Access remained poor until 1930, when the road over the last km's was built by the Swiss; access from Italy remained extremely poor. 

In the fifties of last century an avalanche obliterated most of the buildings. Only recently (2015) were the ruins renovated into what can be currently be seen.

The aforementioned peace probably refers to a WWII skirmish when towards the end of the war partizans retreated here over the river (to Switzerland) and were fired on by fascists, despite being on netral terrain.

My Switzerland has an article with a short briefing on the history:

'The bath house was built from 1818 to 1823, followed in 1881 by the hotel. The foundation walls are still visible today. Yet the Craveggia baths did not attract many visitors because of their remote location and perhaps also because the spring yields just 12 litres of thermal water per minute. In 1951 the baths were engulfed by an avalanche from the northern, Swiss side of the border and almost completely destroyed'.

Another then. Trippick:

'The Bagni di Craveggia hotel was opened in 1823 and was moderately successful before being destroyed in a fire in 1881. The hotel was rebuilt but this time was destroyed by an avalanche in 1951 and then allowed to fall into ruin until a couple of years ago the Bagni were finally restored.

The recent restoration is a clever amalgam of the old ruined stone building alongside sensitive modern touches such as two outdoor tubs hewn out of solid stone, wooden decking, glass and simple Kneipp therapy warm and cold baths. All the modern features are open to the elements and free to use. Next to the warm springs is a river which can be crossed by bridge lower down or forded in the summer.

At a height of nearly 1000 metres, the spring is south facing; it makes a pleasant picnic or sunbathing spot during the summer months'.

And with this, the list is one soak shorter. 

Questions

maxi24_12

Quien eres?

Quien soy?

Quieres decir de donde soy?

Algún día me convertiré en "de donde soy"

Que he hecho ?

Que es lo que has visto ?

Lo que temo ?

Lo que yo he visto ?

Lo que sueño ?

Lo que algún día me convertiré ?

A quien amo ?

Lo que he perdido?

A quien he perdido ?

Soy exactamente igual a ti, ni mejor ni peor que tu.

Porque no hay nadie que haya sido o será exactamente igual a ti o a mi.

Etiquetar es lo opuesto a entender.

#sense8

A esto me refiero con dejar vivir. 🇫🇷

The French flag quite rightly informs where we are.
Following more from neighbouring the above.
And more from some other soakable countries in (southern) Europe.

truevelers

Looking for natural hot springs became one of the first things when planning our travels since we've visited California and found out such places exist.

You never know if you find them as these places are usually not described in travel guides. So it was a double reward when we got there - the pools existed and we could enjoy bathing better than expected ☺️

magali_ferre

S o u r c e s n a t u r e l l e s 

#sourcedeauchaude #belledecouverte #wild #photography #beautenaturelle #momandson #lekiff #love

hilde_van_soom

Beneficial

vivi_oilytribe

Selbstliebe bedeutet für mich, mir etwas Gutes zu tun ….. kennst Du heiße Quellen? Hast Du schon einmal eine besucht. Man sagt ihnen nach, dass sie heilende Wirkungen haben. Wir waren in Griechenland und haben mehrere Tage lang eine heiße Quelle genossen. Für meine Gelenke, sowie für meine Haut waren sie eine wahre Wohltat. Ich kann es nur jedem empfehlen ♥️

#vivioilytribe #savikunterbunt #essentialoils #amohamovement #oilylover #ätherischeöle #ätherischeöleimalltag #Ölliebe #aromatherapie #ortsunabhängigarbeiten #arbeitenvonunterwegs #selflove #heißequellen #griechenland #thermopylen #thermopylae

miriammarras

Hot spring night 🌙

#night#relax#relaxtime#terme#weekend#sarurday#saturdaynight#hotsprings#hotspringspas#italiangirl#sorgente#weekendvibes

Alltogether

appelsabrientje

TBT to being all alone in #montanejosvalencia #españa #bööty #hotsprings

alala_and_family

💙

#tiermas#aragón#termasnaturales #termasromanas #ruinas #embalses #yesa#naturephoto #landscape#lifestyle #vanlifestyle #vanlife

wanderersofestonia

Ask and you will be given... 🌸

After discovering Northern Portugal in a series of rainy days, sleeping in the car, brushing teeth in the rain, changing clothes in the rain, going to pee in the rain (you get the point😆), we felt we need a relaxing spa day. However, we couldn't find anything suitable and budget friendly, so we continued our trip. A few hours later we ended up parking our car next to Roman Hotsprings and had even better spa day we could have imagined in the middle of nature with 40 degree water 🥰🛁

#wanderersofestonia #travel #nature #europe #spain #thermalbath #roman #adventure #wander #travellingcouple

Remodelled

Weather was inclemental, so on a spur of the moment we decided to drive a short distance from the city of Bologna (Emilia-Romagna) up to Porretta Terme, expecting at the least some kind of thermal experience. 

But it must be said, my prior research was touchy, as was the signal for my phone. So at the very least, we could be surprised, pleasantly hopefully.

Once passing the extensive railway neighbourhood of Porretta Terme (it was once where the rail systems of northern Italy met those of central Italy and passengers were required to change trains), one crosses the bridge over the Reno river and arrives, quite suddenly, in what looks like a very pleasant town. 

Park the car and wander around on foot. Drink an espresso, wander some more, decide to head up to the picturesque hamlet of Madognana through chestnut forests. Return, dodge the odd heavy deluge, have a lunch, then head over the terme itself.

At the terme building, it doesn't look very open, but some cars are parked in front, so it probably is open for business. 

It looks like it doubles up as a medical center: along the side of the building are people sitting around in what looks like a waiting room. Not really inviting. 

There's a green park to the rear, but it doesn't reveal anything. I also had expected that the source itself might be able to be visited, but the underground sources are only to be visited on Saturday mornings, if reserved on forehand. A description of such an underground visit to be had from DiscoverAltoRenoTerme. They also refer to as the temperature being hottest 29°C.

This terme building is part of the Terme di Porretta which is the institute that manages the terme and its waters. Concerning the waters:

'The salso-bromo-iodine waters

They emerge from the soil in the upper side of the country, under the hotel Terme, in the same area where archaeological finds of the Roman baths were re-discovered. These waters have reminiscent of the sea water in their composition'.

Despite not enjoying a self-experience there is this (from Hot springs in Tuscany), some what dated experience (2011): 

'The building where the thermal baths are located is a depressing 1970's structure, badly in need of some remodelling. It has obviously be given little care in the past few years. However, I understand that the property has changed hands, and some work is being done. For now, it looks like this:

...

The temperature of the water in the pool is a warm 36°C/96.8°F, and the room is kept at 31°C/87°F. The water contains salt, bromine, and iodine. The lifeguard told me that it is similar to sea water. They treat this pool with clorine'.

Despite there being renovations since, it doesn't seem too much positives to note: 

• Tripadvisor gives the terme 3 stars (from 44 reviews, all Italian sourced). Mentioned: poor renovation, little usage, not always friendly service, sometimes closed during weekend.
• Google (479 reviews) is a lot more positive: 4.3 stars. Though it looks like some persons confused the terme with the town. All relevant reviews in Italian likewise, with a bias for persons who took a "treatment". What stuck was one reviewer who said it looks like an old-fashioned local swimming pool (see below photo). Another reviewer felt Tripadvisor reviews were more akin to her experience!

stefanobonaccini at the Terme di Porretta terme during the post-Corona restart:

INSIEME PER IL TERRITORIO, RIPARTONO LE TERME DI PORRETTA ⛲️

Inaugurato questa mattina il nuovo stabilimento delle Terme Basse, via libera che sancisce la ripartenza delle Terme di Porretta, storica struttura dell’Appennino bolognese.

Ancora una volta, un grande gioco di squadra, col progetto di rilancio del Gruppo Salute Più e il lavoro di Regione Emilia-Romagna, Governo, Inail e di tutto il territorio.

Taglio del nastro col nostro assessore Corsini e il sindaco di Alto Reno Terme, Nanni.

Da lunedì prossimo operativa la parte servizi e cure nelle Terme Basse, entro l’estate l'apertura del parco termale e della spa benessere.

Turismo e salute in un luogo straordinario. Per il lavoro e per promuovere la nostra montagna e l’Appennino Tosco-Emiliano in tutto il Paese.

Finding precious little to stem our soaking curiosity we continue onwards to Chiesa della Madonna del Ponte where we can take shelter from the next rain shower. The Chiesa protects amongst others basketball players ...

Apex

A bit more history from the same Terme di Porretta website:

'The thermal baths of Porretta have over 2000 years, and legend says it was thanks to a sick ox, unable to hold the plow and set free by his owner, that the properties of the waters were discovered: the ox quenched his thirst at the thermal spring – which was later called Polecat – during one of his wanderings, and got its strength back. Since then, the healed ox is the emblem of the Baths of Porretta'.

It also mentions Roman and Etruscan finds

After rail construction in the late nineteenth century:

'The baths were frequented by a selected audience, represented by the ruling class of the time, the bourgeois society that saw in the thermal town a place of leisure and recreation, besides an opportunity for treatment. This century represented the apex for the Baths of Porretta, with an inflow of bathers never materialized in the past'.

Instagram (location: Porretta terme) has very few photo's of the terme itself, maybe Instagrammers and potential terme users are differing audiences.

The terme building has not always been in this location. In earlier times the building was just on the edge of the town just before the gorge on the Maggiore river. Fondoambiente (translated): 

'Currently it is not possible to visit the area, but the SOS Terme Alte Committee has been fighting for years to return this property to the population'.

Great pictures of the interior of the building. More info on the building can be found here as the building is slowly being brought back to it's pervious elongance.

If seeking soaking solace it might be better to check in to the private Hotel Helvetia Thermal Spa which lies centrally in town and has  a thermal pool and small wellness area built into a WWII air raid shelter.

• Tripadvisor rates it with 4.5 stars (2082 reviews) most reviewers of Italian descendancy, very little to complain about it seems.
• Google 4.6 stars (1114 reviews), the only recent minus being a remark that the spa needs to be reserved on forehand.

Blending

Though the terme visitation wasn't what it could have been, Poretta Terme and its surroundings have considerable charm.

Other nearby worthwhile visits:

* Rocchetta Mattei. Wikipedia:

'Rocchetta Mattei is a fortress located on the Northern Apennine Mountains , on a hill which is 407 meters above sea level, in the locality of Savignano in the municipality of Grizzana Morandi , on the Strada Statale 64 Porrettana, in the Metropolitan City of Bologna.

Built in the second half of nineteenth century, it blends various eclectic styles, from Medieval to Moorish'.

* Parco Storico di Monte Sole. EmilioRomagnaTurisimo: 

'The park is an impressive natural area. It is home to about 936 species of flora, almost one-third of the diversity of vegetation of the entire Emilia-Romagna region.

The fauna is also abundant and diverse. Visitors will often spot red deer, roe deer, wild boar and squirrels, but also birds, such as the small shrike, the Western Bonelli’s warbler, the common whitethroat warbler, the green woodpecker, the Eurasian nuthatch, the kingfisher and many more'.

* The village of La Scola and surroundings have some good walks in the rolling countryside.

* The village of Grizzana Morandi, which was the mountain refuge of painter Giorgio Morandi.

Further afield there are other terme's in the neighbourhood (source) to be enjoyed. Another good web source is that of gogoterme which lists 18 termes, no less, in Emilia Romagna alone. Most though are commercially run with distinct health attributes. 

Their entry on Porretta emulates all shared information already, though they have more natural discoveries to be made in the Appennines.

Monterenzio (85 km from Porretta, 2(!) hours drive) has an Agrotourisimo which has access to its own thermal baths. It seems a lot better than most commercially run establishments, as they cater more to tourists but on a smaller scale. Also organizes naturist evenings, quite unique in Italy.

More Italian hot springs to be had from hotspringsworldwide.info.