Passare le acque, Atti del Convegno di studi sulle terme di Montecatini Terme – Porretta Terme – Bagni di Lucca

Abstract

The volume Passare le acque brings together the proceedings of an itinerant conference devoted to the study of thermalism from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period, with particular focus on the contexts of Montecatini Terme, Porretta Terme, and Bagni di Lucca. Through contributions of a historical, documentary, and scientific nature, the book examines the role of thermal waters as a factor in territorial, economic, and cultural transformation over the long term. Thermalism emerges as a stratified health and social practice, intertwining therapeutic, institutional, and sociability dimensions, and ultimately configuring itself as a central element in the shaping of landscapes and urban dynamics. Particular attention is given to forms of resource management, to the relationships between public authorities and private initiative, and to the connections between thermal facilities and systems of assistance, highlighting the transition from medieval therapeutic practices to modern forms of tourism and wellness.