Imagine buying a lovely dilapidated house with extensive grounds, with a view to doing it up… Then imagine digging a hole to try to source water to keep the extensive grounds alive, and instead of finding cold water, you discover a thermal vein with water temperatures of up to 39 degrees….Wouldn’t you think to yourself, well my garden’s sooo big I might as well dig a ginormous thermal lake? I know I would have done, and this is exactly what the owner of Villa Dei Cedri did almost 25 years ago. I think it’s fair to say that he wasn’t doing things by halves when he decided on a 5000 Square Metre Lake with hot pools and a grotto, complete with plenty of hydro massaging jets scattered about the place.
And then, as he is obviously a generous soul, he opened a beautiful Hotel Spa, added an impressive restaurant, decided on great opening hours for day visitors (it’s open until 2am on a Friday and Saturday) stuck lots of deck chairs about the place, and opened it to the public… And a very nice place to spend a day out it is too (or a few days I should imagine!)…
The smaller lake
I will also remember the day we spent there for another reason. The Six Year old woke up that morning and decided that he was an Ewok. Normally one to shun all things Star Wars, his Sister surprised us by deciding that he could carry out his Ewok dream for the entire day, she would name him Wijjy, and he would be her pet. And so our day was decided. “Wijjy” (who had surprisingly agreed to the name) was allowed to go for a swim with his owner, but apparently needed to get a spear sorted out sharpish or he wouldn’t pass the Ewok test. Taking his owner’s words to heart, “Wijjy” decided that he would begrudgingly go for a dip, but would much prefer to spend the time in the Forest Moon of Endor, searching for the necessary spear building equipment instead.
We managed to persuade him that all Ewoks love swimming, and luckily he felt it plausible.
Getting in to the Lake (there are two by the way) feels a little strange at first. As you climb down the concrete steps of the bath house, and into these gorgeously warm waters, your toes immediately sink into gravel reminding you that this is not a swimming pool, this is a swimming lake – and one full of health giving properties at that (the waters contain bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium amongst other things).
As friends of mine here will tell you, thanks to a fear of bumping into some aquatic creature, I don’t usually do lake swimming, but there’s not much chance of that happening here. And there’s not much chance of bumping into people either, it’s pretty spacious, and the children’s area was positively empty. Of course this probably fluctuates throughout the year, but it just added to the nice relaxed feel of the place…
“Wijjy” taking the Ewok test a little too seriously, threatening to harpoon his owner…
After around an hour in the lake, “Wijjy” wanted to get out and get spear building, and as I wanted to explore the grounds, I gladly agreed to leave the other members of our party to it, and join him in the “Forest Moon of Endor”… The gardens here really are spacious and beautiful, plus I imagine if you are lucky, you could find a corner to yourselves and not see another Ewok all day…
Even if you’re not much of a swimmer, I think it’s worth coming here for the grounds alone – it feels like it should have botanical garden status with its impressive variety of mighty trees – it kind of reminded me of Kew Gardens, just with warm therapeutic waters, and semi-naked people! All of us (even the Ewok) agreed that it was a brilliant day out, and well worth the entrance fee. We will return!
Forbidden Amorous Effusions…. I love Italian… It sounds so much better than “No Heavy Petting” doesn’t it?
What an amazing place! I love the imaginative play too, kids have the best imaginations :)
Thanks Leila! (:
That’s a blog post title you don’t come across very often!
I know right? But I couldn’t call it anything else, as it wouldn’t have felt right! :D
I so want to visit! looks and sounds blissful
Thanks Becky… As much as I love the lake near you, it’s definitely not as warm as this one! :D
Oh my, it looks absolutely beautiful there!
x
Thank you… Seriously contemplating driving back there right now, weather is hideous here! :D
Sounds like a lovely place. I’ve swan in thermal spas before and found them wonderful.
So relaxing… Thanks Erica! :D
Imaginations are such beautiful things. This post made me giggle. And this is most certainly now on my list of places to visit. (I get the feeling my list will become quite long after going through your blog ;-))
He certainly has a huge imagination! Thank you so much! :)
oh my the colour of the water is amazing!!
Thank you… I approve of syrange coloured water when it’s this nice and warm! :D
A lovely day. I love their imagination! I’m not a fan of the snakes in lake Garda myself. I love thermal pools and have been one close by to Verona but can’t remember the name. I like how they set up the outdoor pools in Italy like parks but always find the water freezing!
This one is not at all far from Verona, perhaps it’s the same one? Thank you :)
Wow, that is simply stunning – I would love to go there – will definitely add to my bucket list :) Sounds like a lovely day – and Ewoks are cool :)
Thanks so much Sara! :)
Love Garda and all places on the Lake. Went last year to Bardolino. Just back from Sorrento. Another lovely place. see blog).
Thanks Glenda, Bardolino lovely too, and the wine’s not bad either! :)
What an absolutely stunning place, and as you say the owner has been very generous to open the doors and share this little bit of paradise. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Thanks so much Fiona! :)
Wow, you packed so many fantastic things into a few days! This looks amazing, and love the Wijjy adventure, lucky his sister was in the mood to play along – doesn’t happen that often here!
SO pleased to see your name on the BIBs list, BRILLIANT news, have my fingers crossed for you xx
Thank you so much! Still can’t quite believe I am in the finals!
His sister loved the idea because she could totally boss him about, and he fell for it (for a while anyway!)… xx
Looks like an amazing place to visit.
Thank you, it was lovely! :)
It looks like complete bliss – has all the elements I love.
So peaceful and relaxing, apart from the Ewok! Thanks Gemma!
Oh to dip my toes in there right now!
I know… It was lovely, honestly! :)
Another fabulous place, obviously friendly to Ewoks too, what more can you ask for? xx
Thank you… It was pure Ewok heaven! :) xx
It looks really amazing, and I love the hot pools and grottos – it seems like something out of a fairy tale. Great pictures. I would love to go there (actually I’d like to be there right now!).
Me too Sarah, me too! Thank you! :)
Oh i want to go there. How wonderful and idilic. I love wijjy’s imagination what a creative soul he is
Thanks Helen, he certainly has an active imagination! :D
This looks amazing. I would’ve played along too. The Star Wars trilogy is one of my favourites.
And now I will be pestering you with questions when I need to look knowledgeable about such things! :D
Please Emma, beam me up next time you’re there! This is the 5th sunless day in a row, and I might be shrivelling up. The place looks lovely, over-the-top and so Italian – love it. But it’s Wijjy that I really have my eyes on – so sweet, even with that lethal spear!
Wijjy ended up having to leave his spear in the park in fear of taking someone’s eye out in the car on the way home! Luckily he woke up the next day and was back to his normal self!! It was a brilliant place, and of course I will beam you up! :) x
Lovely pictures! I am here again this weekend and am really looking forward to the warm lake waters. Its supposed to be raining but that doesnt matter at all, in fact, it adds to the fun!. I am also staying in one the Villa dei Cedri rooms complete with jacuzzi which is filled with the same waters. Glad you enjoyed your visit and I hope to do the same!
Jan, I am soooo jealous! Have a lovely time! Do tell the owner if he would like me to review the hotel, I would be more than happy!! :D
He is too funny!! Looks amazing!xx
He takes after you… xxx
I am adding this to my list of places to visit! Thanks for sharing.
I am sure you will love it Brooke, thanks for commenting! :)