To celebrate the fifth anniversary of The Great Spa Towns of Europe’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List (24th July 2021), all eleven towns in our Property have held different events, each with their own local flair.
Montecatini Terme is a historic spa town in Tuscany, Italy. Known as ‘the Garden Spa of Europe’, it is nestled among olives groves and lush greenery. A medieval village, Montecatini Alto, sits above the spa town, and red funicular rail carriages travel up and down, as red dots in the green landscape.
From 1st – 6th July 2026, the town ran the Montecatini UNESCO Arts Festival in the Piazzale delle Terme Tettuccio. This new event celebrated the spa town as a hub of wellness, culture and reflected on its future, marking the fifth anniversary of UNESCO’s recognition as a Great Spa Town of Europe. The festival was free to attend (with the exception of the concerts on July 4th and 6th).
“The two thousand spectators gave the artists a long and warm applause, confirming the success of the opening of an event that unites art, healing, and the local community.” – Daniele Bernardini, La Nazione.
More than 6,900 Visitors Celebrated the Anniversary
The Montecatini UNESCO Arts Festival welcomed more than 6,900 participants over its events.
Each evening was themed on a different aspect of Montecatini Terme’s history, identity and Outstanding Universal Value.
The opening evening saw 1,700 people attend a performance from the Ballet School of the Accademia Tetro alla Scala, celebrating the town’s long-standing artistic tradition.
Radio3’s live programme ‘Pianeta Acqua’ highlighted the central role of water as the foundation of spa culture.
Concita De Gregorio’s performance ‘La Cura’ reflected on the concept of care, which lies at the heart of the identity of The Great Spa Towns of Europe.
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino’s performance of ‘Carmina Burana’ at the Terme Tettuccio anticipated the joint celebrations that next year will mark the centenary of both the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and the Terme Tettuccio, founded in 1927.
The festival overall held a rich program featuring the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala, the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, journalist Concita De Gregorio, historian Franco Cardini, as well as concerts by PFM and Tony Hadley.
The Theme of Water
At the heart of the event was the theme of water, understood as an element of healing, a precious resource and a symbol of regeneration. This theme was also explored in the Radio3 Scienza special and in the final talk on 5th July, dedicated to the great changes of our time, which featured the President of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani.
Positivity in the Press
The Italian press reported on the success of the festival. La Nazione’s article, titled ‘UNESCO Arts Festival. An evening of grace and magic. Two thousand people applauded.’, described the opening night as “a magical evening, interwoven with grace, talent, and great popular participation”.
It concluded: “The two thousand spectators gave the artists a long and warm applause, confirming the success of the opening of an event that unites art, healing, and the local community.”
Other reports also ran in Toscana Notizie, TV6onAir, Il Tirenno among others.
More celebrations for the anniversary will run across the Great Spa Towns of Europe until mid-September 2026.