Paradise Fratta Terme

The Grand Hotel Terme della Fratta was a complete revelation to me. I spent the week in Bertinoro, enjoying the Italian summer, while A. was working away at one of his conferences in the lovely (non-air conditioned) University of Bologna conference centre.

View from Bertinoro hill over the lowlands of Emilia Romagna

There is a lot to recommend that particular area. The conference centre is one of them, the vineyards another. The views from the top of the Bertinoro hill, or the easy reach of Forlì, Cesena and Cesenatico. But for me it must be that Therme della Fratta is so close by. 

Review from 2009 - why they do not use better photos - only they will know. The baths are amazing.

When I planned my trip,  I noticed the place as one of the thermal options near Bertinoro. Not excessively cheap, but not overpriced either, if the pool is good. This bath is good. I paid €19 plus €2 for the bathing cap (which is obligatory in Italian baths) and enjoyed myself. The waters are magical. 

Floating in the salty pool, the minutes evaporated. The pain caused by small scratches on my body was quite excruciating, and it was not a good idea to get this water into my eyes. But mineral salts do stimulate small wounds to heal and the luxury of floating was heavenly. 

In Britain, they sell floating tank sessions: climb into a coffin sized bath and touch the sides of the tub all the time. Here I just drifted lazily around the Roman style pool, watching fluffy clouds go by through the large pyramid skylight, occasionally using one of the many water jets to massage my aching back. 

More fun is offered in the Turkish and Roman steam room area, which is large and beautifully tiled: iridescent tiny squares, shimmering in many hues, made this sauna a delight for the eyes for me. There is the shower unit in dark green tones, shaped like a helix - you enter as you would a snail's house clad in shimmering tiles, disappear from view until you reach the fog and hot waters which this unit offers. 

My absolute favourite entertainment must be the circular unit though: 5 different stops on a round parcours. Step inside and you first have hot rain and red light, then cold, soft rain and blue light, surprisingly spiky hot jets from the side at stop No. 3, followed by mellow rain in green light, and finished off by a dose of fresh fog and pleasant fragrance. I always pressed the button and went right round the circle again. 

10 minutes is all it takes by bus from Bertinoro - you have to walk up the hill again, though.

This hotel was renovated some four years ago and I thought it was in pretty good nick. The changing rooms were equipped with the latest in locker technology, the staff went round and dried floors regularly, it was a great place to be. 

I have visited a few bathing pools in the past two years, and the closest to Fratta Terme would be Therme Erding. Except that there is a lot more chlorine in Erding's water. To be fair, Erding is quite a different type of venue, but for my money's worth, I will go back to Fratta.