Montecatini Terme: Roman spa town becomes UNESCO World Heritage site

In 2021, Montecatini Terme, located in the Valdinievole region of Tuscany, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of The Great Spa Towns of Europe, joining ten other towns. The healing properties of its springs were recognized as early as Roman times, with Ugolino Caccino's 1553 work detailing their benefits. The town endured various challenges, including the Battle of Montecatini in 1315 and subsequent epidemics. It came under Florentine dominance in 1339, first ruled by the Medici and later by the Habsburg-Lorraine family. In 1765, Pietro Leopoldo began canalization, modernizing the spa. On October 28, 1928, it was renamed Montecatini Terme and later became a WWII internment camp, gaining popularity with celebrities from the 1960s. Its architecture showcases Liberty-style designs.