After a day spent sightseeing in Bologna and enduring colder than anticipated temperatures, I couldn’t think of a more suitable way to spend my Sunday morning than at SoulSPAce [comfort zone]. This relaxing and quiet place located on the ground floor of a palace built in 1831 in the heart of Florence offers extremely clean, well-furnished, and modern facilities; friendly and professional staff; and spa services all in support of one primary goal – their clients’ well-being and relaxation.
Armed with my headscarf, and satin sleeping cap to maintain my protective hairstyle, I headed over to SoulSPAce Wellness Spa for my Soulwoman Day Spa package – courtesy of my sister. The package consisted of a 20-minute facial, a 20-minute full-body massage, and access to the steam room, warm indoor pool, and relaxation lounge.
Admittedly, I was running about 10 minutes late, but the owner was very accommodating and reassuring that it would not be a problem. When I entered the wellness center, I helped myself to hand sanitizer and showed my “green pass” or equivalent – to evidence that I am vaccinated or was recently tested for COVID-19 with a negative result (a requirement when entering certain establishments in Italy).
I immediately felt relaxed – the slow ambient music playing softly in the background, the dimmed lights, and the neutral colors in the space providing the perfect tranquil atmosphere. As they prepared my room, I sat and admired the reception/waiting area which is quite spacious and suitably decorated for the holiday season. Their exclusive line of products for the face, body, and home called “Comfort Zone” were neatly displayed throughout the reception area, offering guests an opportunity to explore further and purchase.
Shortly after my arrival, the staff directed me to a changing room where I received a locker (with key access), a freshly laundered warm terrycloth robe (neatly folded and packaged securely), and spa slippers (also packaged securely) to wear while using the facilities.
I couldn’t tell the last time I had a massage, but in usual fashion, I caught myself falling asleep a couple of times during the session. While this certainly caught my masseuse off guard, she was all for it; her mission was complete – the end result was a well-relaxed client! As I was about to receive my facial, oddly enough the first thought that came to my mind was “I hope I fixed my head coverings properly so my edges don’t get wet” – real talk!
Before I knew it, my facial was over and it was time to take advantage of the rest of the facilities. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a bathing suit and missed out on my opportunity to use the indoor pool. It never even crossed my mind to pack one, and I certainly never would have thought a bathing suit would become an essential item on my packing list (regardless of the climate) had it not been for this experience.
Despite not having a bathing suit, I was able to take advantage of the Turkish bath (steam room) thanks to the owner who suggested my masseuse provide me with a cotton sea pareo towel to wear while in the room. Word to the wise – when you visit the steam room, don’t sit in the corner farthest from the door. I discovered this the hard way and now I know why that corner was empty.
After my first 5 minutes in the room, steam started blowing profusely from the outlet nozzles right by my feet. Considering there were two other women in the room, the best I could do was pull my knees up and rest my feet on top of the bench, hoping that would be enough space to avoid being burned by the steam (and it was). With that situation being taken care of, I went back to enjoying the steam room. I don’t recall how long I was in there – my guess is I was in there for at least 20 – maybe even 30 minutes; I do know that when I stepped out, I was parched.
Right outside the heated pool and lounge area were pitchers of citrus water and tisana (herbal tea) available at my disposal. A tall glass of citrus water was exactly what I needed to rehydrate as I relaxed on one of their “comfort zone” beds and took some time to enjoy the last moments of my visit to SoulSPAce.
Walking out of SoulSPAce, I felt completely revived and rejuvenated. While tipping isn’t commonplace in Italy, if the service deserves it, then by all means you should do it! I was extremely pleased with my visit. The service and facilities at SoulSPAce were beyond my expectations and exactly what I needed to start the end of my weekend! If you’re looking for a place to relax after a day of walking around and visiting museums, art galleries, palaces, and churches – then this is a great option and I highly recommend it!
(Want to see more footage from my experience at SoulSPAce? Check us out on IG @fromirietoitaly)
What a delightful and relaxing ambiance at SoulSPAce (Comfort Zone).
Everything sounds and looks very inviting, especially having a chance to relax in one of their “comfort zone” beds (after being pampered).
Thanks for sharing your experience, as well as the tips, Jodi!
Thanks Aunty Marcia! Yes, it certainly was. I was extremely fortunate to be gifted this experience. Even though I only used their facilities once while I was in Italy, it’s on my list of “must-do’s” when I return. I’ll also make sure to bring a bathing suit the next time around…lol!