What makes our spring waters so special? Where do they come from, what are they made of, and how are they used in thermal treatments? Let’s find out together.
Terme di Torre Canne is a renowned thermal spa located in the town of Fasano, in the Puglia region of southern Italy, just steps from the Adriatic Sea and the charming whitewashed towns of the Itria Valley. The spa is famous for its spring waters, which rise from eleven natural sources fed by underground watercourses and are known for their therapeutic properties in treating a variety of conditions and promoting overall wellbeing.
But what are the secrets of these springs? Where do they originate, what is their composition, and how are they used for healing? Here’s everything you need to know.
The Origin of the Spring Waters
The spring waters at Terme di Torre Canne have an ancient origin, dating back millions of years, to a time when the entire area was covered by the sea. Over time, as the sea gradually receded, it left behind layers of marine sediments rich in mineral salts and organic material. These layers formed an impermeable barrier that prevented rainwater from seeping into the deeper ground. As a result, rainwater accumulated on the surface, creating brackish lakes.
Later, volcanic activity caused fissures in the impermeable layer, allowing the brackish water to seep underground. As the water filtered through, it became enriched with more mineral salts and gases, eventually stabilizing at a constant temperature of 18°C. Following complex underground pathways, the water emerged at surface-level springs, which were discovered and used for therapeutic purposes as early as the 19th century.
The Composition of the Spring Waters
The spring waters of Terme di Torre Canne are classified as chloride-sulfate-sodium mineral waters, slightly brominated — also referred to as salso-sulfate-bromic waters. This means they contain a high concentration of essential minerals, particularly chloride, sulfate, and sodium, along with trace amounts of bromine. These mineral elements give the waters their unique chemical-physical profile and their suitability for therapeutic use.
Among the eleven springs, two have been studied in depth for their physical, chemical, and therapeutic characteristics: spring no. 11 (Torricella) and spring no. 3 (Antesana). Both share a similar composition, but with some differences: Torricella has a higher concentration of chloride and sodium, while Antesana contains more sulfate and bromine.
How the Spring Waters Are Used
At Terme di Torre Canne, the spring waters are used in various types of thermal therapies, depending on the medical condition and the physician’s recommendation. The main applications include:
- Balneotherapy: this involves full-body immersion in thermal pools filled with spring water. It offers relaxing, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving effects on the musculoskeletal and circulatory systems, and is recommended for rheumatic, arthritic, and vascular conditions.
- Inhalation Therapy: inhalation consists of breathing in the steam of spring water through specialized equipment. It has fluidifying, antiseptic, and decongestant effects on the respiratory tract, and is used to treat upper and lower respiratory conditions such as rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and asthma.
- Aerosol Therapy: aerosol treatments deliver micronized droplets of spring water through a mask. They have mucolytic, anti-inflammatory, and healing effects on the respiratory mucosa, and are particularly effective for ENT (ear, nose, throat) disorders, such as otitis, pharyngitis, and laryngitis.
- Nasal Irrigation: this involves rinsing the nasal cavities with spring water using a cannula or nasal shower. It helps clean, disinfect, and decongest the nasal passages, and is especially useful in the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis.
