We've been spending our summer in Italy. Tough, we know. And we've visited some pretty amazing hotels during our stay. We've toured gorgeous palazzos, stepped into rustic farmhouses, and perused canal-side properties. But some of our favorite hotels have been those tucked into the hills of the Italian countryside, where natural thermal baths are considered standard. (But, with calming waters, soothing temperatures, and beautiful surroundings, are anything but.) Here we bring you three totally romantic Italian escapes -- made all the more romantic with sexy thermal springs for an utterly relaxing, rejuvenating vacation.

An intimate, family-like atmosphere pervades this hotel and spa in the Tuscan countryside. The 25 rooms are laid out around well-kept grounds, and the conscientiously maintained outdoor pools are sourced from the hotel’s private spring, one of Saturnia’s famous naturally occurring thermal waters. These two thermal pools are the hotel’s main attraction, and are kept at their naturally occurring temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). A hot tub and a full menu of spa services round out the options; many guests have claimed that, since the owner changes the pool waters daily, the facilities are the cleanest in town. Other perks include the excellent restaurant, which serves local fare in a country-style dining room, the lovely grounds, and the sweeping views of the countryside.

This is one of the closest places to stay not only to the Saturnia spa complex (barring staying within the baths’ own hotel), but also the Cascate del Mulino, the (free) outdoor waterfalls fed by the same thermal waters as the spa. The latter are accessible via a path through the woods. The apartment and rooms are outfitted with country touches, including antique wood furniture, floral bedspreads, and (in some) wood beam ceilings. A discount to the spa complex as well as the golf course is available, and the hotel has a limited number of bicycles for guests to borrow. The hotel is situated within a farm that produces oil, wine, and honey, all of which are available for tasting and purchase.

This clean, well-kept budget hotel, set in fields outside the Umbrian town of Spello, is particularly welcoming of families, and offers the basics of a thermal spa without frills or excessive attention to aesthetics. The property is laid out like a small village, with a ranch-style main building that houses the rooms, and a gravel lot for the “bungalows,” which are small mobile houses. The friendliness of the staff, and the warmth of the owner, are a big draw, as is the proximity to monuments and historical points of interest in the surrounding area, including Assisi and Perugia. The outdoor artificial lake, which anchors a large park surrounding the property, provides a pleasant place to stroll, but the main draw is the natural thermal springs that feed into the spa. Pets are welcome at the property.

Check out zzdtravel’s page on Google+

To learn more about Jane Reynolds, visit her on Google+

We’ll pay for your summer beach stay!Sexy see-through bathroomsNEW on zzdtravel: Europe’s steamiest spas