- / Marrakech
IZZA Marrakech, a boutique hotel where architecture, contemporary art, and cultural collaboration redefine sustainable hospitality in the heart of the Medina
ISSUE NO. 31
In the heart of southern Tuscany, Terme di Saturnia continues to frame wellness as a cultural and intellectual act. A historic destination for therapeutic bathing, Saturnia’s water—rich in hydrogen sulfide and minerals—has been surfacing at a constant 37.5°C for over three thousand years. Today, the site redefines itself as both a physical retreat and a place of public reflection.
The sulphureous spring of Saturnia is the central raw material of the resort, a natural infrastructure that has shaped the territory and its practices over centuries. Emerging after a forty-year subterranean journey, the water brings with it dissolved hydrogen sulfide, bicarbonates, calcium and magnesium, delivering anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and antioxidant effects. Recognized globally for its dermatological and respiratory benefits, the water feeds all systems of the resort: the open-air pools of the Thermal Park, the spa’s therapeutic and cosmetic treatments, and the proprietary product line based on Saturnia Bioplancton—a native algae enriched by thermal minerals.
The spring is part of a wider environmental composition: a hundred and twenty hectares of preserved landscape, ancient oak groves, and rural geometries surrounding the medieval town of Saturnia. The site hosts one of Europe’s largest open thermal parks and a golf course designed by Ronald Fream, in a geographical integration of mineral resources, architectural volume and natural rhythm.
In 2025, Terme di Saturnia hosted for the second consecutive year the Forum in Masseria – Winter Edition, curated by Bruno Vespa and organized by Comin & Partners. For three days, the resort became the meeting ground for Italian ministers, CEOs, researchers and journalists to debate the country’s political, economic and technological directions.
The forum, now in its fifth edition, hosted discussions on the role of artificial intelligence in agri-food chains, future professions, international cooperation, and social inclusion. It aligns with the site’s historical use as a meeting point for exchange—first Etruscan, then Roman.
Terme di Saturnia’s built environment aligns with the geological identity of its surroundings. The main resort building, a former Twentieth-century spa complex, has been restored and adapted to host a five-star hotel, now part of The Leading Hotels of the World. The layout remains low and porous, with mineral textures and open views across the valley. The original 1919 restaurant remains one of the oldest in the Maremma, while La Stellata Country Restaurant occupies a former farmhouse structure.
The integration of the spring into the built spaces follows the principle of organic architecture. Water is not directed but hosted; temperature, smell and humidity remain unprocessed. Mineral stratification becomes a spatial experience: visible in surfaces, embedded in the air, and echoed in the rhythm of services—spa treatments, thermal circuits, naturopathic programs and diagnostic consultations.
The access model to Saturnia reflects a broader redefinition of sustainable travel. The resort limits mass tourism flows through price calibration, seasonal programming, and the absence of aggressive marketing strategies. Guests are implicitly required to adapt to the site’s rhythms: long stays over quick turnover, slow mobility over speed, experiential depth over consumption.
Accessibility strategies prioritize low-carbon transport modes, encouraging rail and hybrid car arrivals. On-site mobility is managed through electric vehicles and walking circuits, while communication materials—printed and digital—emphasize the need for respectful interaction with the landscape. This model positions Saturnia not as a consumable destination but as a temporary common, where visitors are custodians rather than users.
Through its Terme di Saturnia Method – a five-step program combining diagnostics, nutrition, thermal care, physical activity and energy balance – the thermal structure supports local supply chains, artisanal food production and small-scale viticulture in the Maremma. Nearby, archaeological trails, medieval libraries and minor museums form part of the visitor experience, linking thermal use to sustainable tourism practices and cultural preservation.
The relationship between Saturnia’s spring and human craftsmanship extends beyond spa treatments. Thermal muds, naturally formed by the slow sedimentation of mineral elements, are manually extracted, dried and processed without chemical additives. This material feeds both therapeutic protocols and the Saturnia Bioplancton line, manufactured with minimal intervention to preserve the algae’s native properties. Production cycles are aligned with the spring’s regenerative pace, in a model where the local environment dictates industrial rhythm rather than the reverse.
The resort also promotes artisanal collaborations: local ceramicists, textile producers and herbalists incorporate the mineral imprint of Saturnia into their objects and formulations. Mud, water, stone, and plant matter are treated as living raw materials.
Textile choices within the resort – bedding, bath linens, spa uniforms – privilege naturally sourced fibers, including organic cotton and linen produced in Italy. The commitment extends to processing methods: low-impact dyes, biodegradable detergents and short supply chains reduce the environmental footprint of textile maintenance and disposal.
The textures reference the roughness of local terrains; the color palettes mirror the chromatic range of sulfur, clay and foliage. Fabric maintenance protocols prioritize durability over replacement, integrating repair and renewal into daily operations rather than relying on external waste management.
The thermal operation of Saturnia generates byproducts: residual mineral sediments, used thermal water, and biological aggregates from algae cultivation. Instead of discarding these materials, the resort integrates them into secondary production cycles.
Mineral sediments are repurposed in construction and landscaping activities, contributing to natural soil enrichment and non-structural fillings. Residual waters irrigate non-edible green areas, reducing freshwater dependency. Bioplancton biomass byproducts, once separated from high-grade extracts, are composted to support local agriculture.
While the main hospitality structure respects historical volumes, new interventions across the resort follow a philosophy of roughness. Pathways are unpaved or surfaced with local stone; walls are treated with lime plaster left unfinished; furniture uses untreated woods and oxidized metals. This aesthetic decision is also ecological: rough materials require less processing, produce lower carbon emissions during production, and weather naturally with minimal maintenance.
Erosion and sedimentation – processes visible in the surrounding landscape – are mirrored architecturally. Structures are designed to accept degradation: stones that darken, metals that patinate, surfaces that absorb mineral stains. Rather than resisting environmental forces, the built environment absorbs and integrates them, reducing maintenance cycles and chemical interventions.
The spring of Saturnia is not a renewable resource in infinite terms. Although its flow is constant, excessive extraction or contamination could compromise the ecosystem’s equilibrium. Terme di Saturnia operates under extraction limits regulated by regional authorities, ensuring that water usage remains below the aquifer’s natural replenishment rate.
Daily monitoring includes temperature, chemical composition, and flow volume. Changes trigger immediate interventions, including the temporary closure of specific pools or treatments to allow environmental recovery. Beyond internal regulation, the resort collaborates with public institutions and independent laboratories to collect longitudinal data, contributing to broader research on hydrothermal systems and climate impacts.
Saturnia’s energy model integrates geothermal sources, solar panels and high-efficiency systems to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Geothermal energy extracted from subsoil wells supports heating and spa operations, while solar installations supply part of the electricity for public spaces and service infrastructures.
Water systems prioritize closed-loop recycling: thermal water is separated from potable circuits; greywater is treated and reused for irrigation; low-flow technologies are installed across guest areas. These strategies reduce the resort’s environmental footprint while aligning with Tuscany’s regional objectives for water and energy conservation.
The long-term plan includes expanding solar capacity, experimenting with algae-based bioenergy, and further integrating passive architectural strategies – such as thermal inertia and natural ventilation – to reduce mechanical energy needs.
In the park surrounding Terme di Saturnia native oak and holm oak species are preserved and expanded through controlled planting programs; invasive species are systematically removed to restore ecological balance.
Agricultural zones follow organic principles, avoiding chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. Wild corridors are maintained to support local biodiversity, allowing pollinators and small mammals to navigate the territory uninterrupted.
ISSUE NO. 31
Lampoon is a cultural magazine.
Culture today means sustainability – in its honest meaning.
Culture has always been about human respect, tolerance. It’s not only about accepting human diversity but it’s about searching for the beauty of every human peculiarity.
Inclusion is the first value that defines art. Culture today means one thing only: to be part of a community, to think as a community.
Reading Lampoon, you see that these themes are smoothly aligned. A good part of the articles’ content discusses practices to restore our environment and stories about understanding the others.
Reading Lampoon, you find a dialogue between science and creativity. From sharp and edgy photo sessions to fashion, architecture, technology – the commitment is dedicated to a future that is all about us – together.
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