Thermal baths in Italy

A swimsuit at most of them, and a swim cap at many. QC Terme's baths at Bormio and Pré-Saint-Didier require a swimsuit everywhere, saunas included, and Terme di Saturnia wants swimwear and pool slippers throughout, while Terme Merano's sauna is textile-free and mixed, from 14. Caps are compulsory at La Posta in Bagno Vignoni, Theia in Chianciano Terme, Grotta Giusti, Terme di Sorano, Terme di Sirmione and Giardini Poseidon on Ischia, though Negombo, also on Ischia, says you won't need one.

Not everywhere. QC Terme's baths at Bormio, Pré-Saint-Didier and Pozza di Fassa and La Posta at Bagno Vignoni admit no one under 14, and Terme di Sirmione no one under 30 months. On Ischia, Giardini Poseidon keeps under-12s and Negombo children under 1.40 m out of the thermal pools, though both let them use the seawater pools and the beach. Theia in Chianciano Terme has its own children's pool and grottoes, and Terme Sabine di Cretone a children's pool.

In southern Tuscany, around Viterbo in northern Lazio, and on Ischia. Cascate del Mulino below Saturnia is open at all hours with no gate, and the pools at Bagni San Filippo are free too, as long as you keep away from the Balena Bianca. Just west of Viterbo, Bullicame and the Piscine Carletti are free open-air pools of spring water that reaches 58 °C at the source; the Carletti pools have no toilets, showers or changing rooms. On Ischia, Baia di Sorgeto at Panza is free and open all year: hot spring water of up to 37 °C mixes with the sea in stone-ringed pools at the foot of about 200 steps.

Mostly between 30 and 40 °C. Antica Querciolaia in Rapolano Terme keeps warm baths at 39 to 40 °C and temperate baths at 30 to 34 °C, and Theia in Chianciano Terme holds its pools at 33 to 36 °C. On Ischia, Giardini Poseidon's thermal pools run from 28 to 40 °C beside 15 °C plunge pools, and at Viterbo the Bullicame spring rises at 58 °C to fill the Terme dei Papi pool at 36 °C. Terme di Sirmione's thermal pools are 34 °C in summer and 36 °C in winter.