We can say about Montecatini that it has a double soul, an antique one identifiable with the High Montecatini, and a more modern one, and maybe also more famous, identifiable with the thermal zone of Montecatini Terme.

The city was named for the first time during a fight between bishops for the possess of two churches, fight for which had to intervene in 716 AC up to the King Liutprando and the bishop of Florence.
During the period of the wars between the Guelph and the Ghibellines, the Guelph of Montecatini declared the war to the Ghibellines of the castle of Marliana, and in 1164 after Christ they destroyed it. The inhabitants of Montecatini resisted also to the Lucchesi , and in 1315 AC they welcomed the Guelph escaping from the advance of Uguccione delle Faggiola. The Ghibellines, led by Castruccio Castracani of the Antelminelli, then besieged the city with more than 50.000 soldiers, and, after one of the most cruel fratricide battle of the entire Middle Ages, the same Castruccio, wounded, managed to be the first one to reach the castle.
At that time Montecatini had an imposing aspect, with more than 1000 metres of wall where were opened 7 doors and where were arising 25 towers, but after the stories of wars and sieges, Cosimo dei Medici decided to raze to the ground the city, to dismantle the wall and to eliminate anything that could remember its antique story and its traditions. His intention was, through this behaviour, to follow the advice of Machiavelli, who suggested to destroy all the places where the inhabitants could live with their own laws.
The most important story because of the repercussions it had on the Montecatini of nowadays is, however, the one linked to the discovery and the exploitation of the thermal waters. Already known and studied in the 14th century, we can remember the presence of organised and efficient installations 1477 AC while in 1572 were built the walls, and it started to be frequented by the most important personalities of the time. In 1773 the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Lorena launched the construction of "Bagno Regio" and, in 1779, of the Leopoldine Public Baths and of the "Tettuccio".
The waters used in the Public Baths, technically chloride–sulphate-sodic waters, are weak, the "Rifresco" and the "Tettuccio", medium, the "Regina" and strong the "Torretta" and the "Tamerici".
Nowadays Montecatini Terme offers 11 installations, immerged in a large natural environment. A few paths away you find, that can also be reached through the funicular, Montecatini Alto, with its panoramic view and the ruins of its rich history.