Tettuccio Spa - Montecatini Terme, Italy - Philatelic Photographs on Waymarking.com

In July of 2021, the spa areas of eleven towns in seven different European countries were designated as one collective World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These included Bath in England, Vichy in France, Spa in Belgium, Montecatini Termi in Italy and seven others. All these towns have multiple spas built around natural springs. The spas usually boast richly ornate architecture and have traditionally attracted the rich and famous as vacation destinations.

The study of the therapeutic effects of drinking or bathing in natural spring water is known in academic circles as balneology. The main attraction of the spas was the perceived medicinal value of the mineral water. These spas that comprise the UNESCO site were immensely popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and several of them date back to antiquity. The spa experience is usually accompanied by other leisure activities such as shopping or listening to musical performances. Today, it’s usually these latter activities that take precedence (along with admiring the architecture) over drinking and bathing in the mineral water.

The Tettuccio Spa in Montecatini Terme is one of three still operating somewhat normally in the town although the hours are limited. At this spa, the emphasis is on drinking rather than bathing. Mineral water from four sources is available, each with different medicinal value: Leopoldina water for bowel disorders; Regina water for the hepatic system; Tettuccio water for the liver; and Rinfresco water for the urinary tract. These are available from properly labeled fountains richly decorated with frescoes representing infancy, adolescence, adulthood and old age. The current building which dates from the 1920s represents the height of monumental spa architecture set in a well-landscaped park.

The stamp was one of six designs issued by the United Nations in 2022 celebrating the relatively new World Heritage site. The six designs were also available in a ‘prestige’ booklet format. The Montecatini Terme design was also the one used for the cover of the booklet.

Stamp Issuing Country: United Nations Date of Issue: 9-Sep-2022 Denomination: $1.40 Color: multicolored Stamp Type: Single Stamp Relevant Web Site: Not listed

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