Piazza Vittorio Veneto 11, Porretta Terme, Italy | (888) 708-2081
Classy spa hotel
occupying a grand, elegant building
Set in the heart
of Porretta Terme opposite the train station
Outstanding spa
facilities including mineral-infused pool
Rooftop hot tub with panoramic mountain vista
Most rooms have
French windows with scenic views
Restaurant with
healthy-eating menu
Elegant lounges
and reading room
Free Wi-Fi and Internet
corner
Room decor
underwhelming
Spa treatments
are pricey
Restaurant lacking natural
light
The Hotel
Helvetia Thermal SPA is an upscale 48-room hotel set in an elegant and
classical villa-style property in the center of Porretta Terme. Its spa
facilities are particularly outstanding with a wide range of water- and
steam-based therapies and treatments on offer -- though these can be a little pricey.
Rooms are adequate with lovely views and modern bathrooms, but feel a touch spare, from the tile floors to the patterned bedspreads. This is certainly one of the more expensive
hotels in town (due to its superb spa); for a
cheaper option check out Hotel Santoli on the edge of town where rates are less
than half the price.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Classic spa hotel with the occasional modern flourish
A grand entrance ushers guests along a red carpet and under an elegant neo-classical villa to a
central courtyard where a stone staircase leads up to the stately and impeccably-presented
building that houses Hotel Helvetia and its thermal spa. First opened in 1904,
this hotel underwent a total renovation in 2006 and relaunched
itself as its present incarnation while retaining much of its original period
charm. Inside, the lobby marries sharp, contemporary styling with modern art
and terra-cotta tiling that leads into the hotel's high-ceilinged lounges
featuring ornate coving, period oil paintings, and gilt-framed mirrors. The
mood is classy and classical with the occasional modern flourish, attracting
the more well-heeled breed of tourist checking-in to check out the hotel's
signature spa offerings.
Location
Set in the center of Porretta Terme spa town surrounded by the picturesque Apennines
The Helvetia
Thermal SPA is located in the center of the spa town of Porretta Terme in
the province of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy. The town dates back
to the 14th century and is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and woodland
threaded with hundreds of miles of hiking trails. The city of Bologna is around 40 miles away,
or an hour and a half by car via the A1. Alternatively, the Porretta
Terme railway station is a just across the river opposite the hotel and
connects directly to Bologna in around an hour.
Rooms
Rooms with French windows and lovely mountain views
The hotel has 45
rooms and three suites, all of which are decorated with tiled floors, floral-themed artworks, and striped drapery. While clean and well-maintained, decor is generally a little lackluster. Rooms
are air-conditioned and provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars,
while pleasant bathrooms have hair dryers and walk-in showers. French windows
open up to superb views over the hotel courtyard and surrounding mountains in
most, but not all, rooms.
Features
Outstanding Ayurvedic treatments and spa facilities cut into rock foundations
The spa
facilities at this hotel are really quite special, much of it occupying a
former World War II bomb shelter cut out of the hotel's rock foundations.
Various hydro-massage spa pools, saunas, steam baths, and a mineral-infused
swimming pool make up this impressive wellness complex. A wide
range of Ayurvedic treatments and programs are also available -- although they're not cheap. A hot
tub on the terrace solarium on the top floor also provides a superb panoramic
view over the town and scenic surrounds. A buffet breakfast is served each
morning in the hotel restaurant (included in the rate) while lunch and dinner
menus offer Italian cooking with an emphasis on healthy eating -- though lack
of natural light makes the space feel a little oppressive.
