This is a 3 and a half star review overall. It's a funny place to critique: Odd location, perched precipitously high on a hill--though I am sure some of the rooms look out over the town and river mine looked out over the old public spa building. It was 79 E for a double (single supplement as i was tired of staying in monastic single rooms) with breakfast (and they did try to have something gluten free for me). I did enjoy the thermal water (included with the room)though the pool is rather small by my standards to be open to the public and guests...and I never heard anything about steam baths in volcanic caves (only sorry I missed it!). but saw massages and such as add on options. The staff were very helpful and nice and the property is clean. It's a few minutes drive down the hill to town for dinner if you don't go for the full board option. No other dining options in walking distance.

The Hotel Antico Albergo Terme in Bagni de Lucca is a great place to stay when visiting the Garfagnana. Bagni de Lucca was really popular in the 18th and 19th Century as a place to take the waters. Its glory has faded a little, but it’s still a charming little town. The Antico Albergo is situated high up on the hills above the river, and just above the thermal baths that are now a fancy spa. In the hotel there is a large pool that has the same water used in the thermal baths below. This water is full of natural minerals, and is incredibly relaxing. It just seems to suck the tension out of your body. It’s fantastic after a day of hiking in the Garfagnana, or a day of sight-seeing in Lucca, which is only half an hour away. Also consider that a day at the spa costs 15 Euros just to use the baths, and the pool at the hotel is free, included in the cost of the room, which, at 45 Euros per person including breakfast, was really reasonable. The Garfagnana is gorgeous – not to be missed if you have the time. It’s amazing to think this is still Tuscany, as it is so different from the regions further south – Chianti and the Crete Senesi. There are wonderful, well-marked hiking trails all over the Garfagnana, so bring your boots! The rooms at the Antico Albergo were spacious and clean, and the floors are all that beautiful Italian tile. The bathroom in our room was larger than the hotel room we had the last time we were in Paris! The breakfast was good. Dinner for us, being vegetarians, was only so-so. The hotel staff recommended Ristorante Del Sonno (see my review) and it was fantastic – a real feast. The non-vegetarians liked the food at the Antico Albergo. The staff were just great. We would stay there again without hesitation.

I visited during my stay in Italy this summer with my brother.
We came for relaxation on two days and really enjoyed ourselfs.
The staff were very friendly and helpful when we asked loads of questions or needed anything.
We each had a massage which was so relaxing; the rooms clean and fresh. The pool was also a relaxing experience.The staff proffesional, most of them only
speak Italian, with a few speaking English, but we expected that; being in a smaller, remote part of the area, and we actually enjoyed trying out our broken Italian!

The spa and hotel is set in an amazing part of Tuscany, with breathtaking views.
Our only regret is that we did not stay in one of the rooms as that would have really added to our experience.
This was definatly one of the highlights for our trip and we will be back!!

Our experience at this lovely spa hotel in the hills above the historic city of Bagni di Lucca was a highlight of our trip to Tuscany. We experienced the steam baths in actual volcanic caves, a mud therapy tratment that left our skin baby soft, hot rock massages, and a swim in a mineral water pool. Some of us also had manicures and pedicures performed in a manner much more sanitary than we experience in the US.
All in all , the staff was helpful, able to access English speaking staff members to help us, and eager to meet our needs. I will return there next summer for more treatments, for sure.