Walking and wellness: the thermal baths along the Via Francigena between history, culture and relaxation
3 minutes
The Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route connecting Northern Europe to Rome and on to Santa Maria di Leuca in Puglia, now offers travellers not only an experience of cultural and spiritual discovery, but also an opportunity for physical well-being thanks to the presence of numerous thermal springs and spas scattered along the route or in its surroundings. This combination of walking, history and thermal waters is becoming a distinctive element of slow and regenerative cultural tourism.
The promotion of slow and sustainable tourism through spas revives the ancient tradition of healing waters, exploring a rich and varied heritage that combines health, landscape and culture.
Thermal bath stops along the Via Francigena in Tuscany
One of the most significant establishments is the spa in the municipality of Gambassi Terme (Florence). Located along the ancient route, these spas have become a go-to spot for pilgrims wishing to recover after the exertions of the journey.
The thermal baths are located directly on the Via Francigena, integrated into the fabric of the village and easily accessible without detours. Today, they represent a concrete example of how slow tourism can interact with contemporary well-being, offering travellers an immediate opportunity for physical recovery after the stages between San Miniato and San Gimignano.
Continuing south, the route passes through one of the most iconic places on the entire itinerary: Bagno Vignoni. Here, thermal water is not hidden or marginal, but takes centre stage in the urban setting. The large pool in the centre of the square, already active in Roman times and frequented in the Middle Ages, welcomed pilgrims and travellers who found refreshment along the way. Even today, although it is not suitable for bathing, it visually recounts the indissoluble link between the Francigena and its waters.
A short distance away, though requiring a slight detour, lies the spa complex of Chianciano Terme, one of the most developed in central Italy. Here, history goes back even further: archaeological excavations testify to the presence of an Etruscan temple dedicated to water and Roman baths, a sign of a thousand-year continuity in the therapeutic use of the springs. For the modern pilgrim, Chianciano represents a more organised break, with equipped establishments and services, easily accessible with a limited detour from the main route.
Also in the Val d'Orcia, another detour leads to Bagni San Filippo, where the spa experience is completely different. There are no large spa facilities here, but rather a wild and evocative landscape of white limestone pools and steaming streams nestled in the woods. The springs were already known in the medieval period and were also frequented by pilgrims travelling along the Via Francigena, who found there a simple and immediate form of refreshment, not unlike what can still be experienced today.
The thermal baths in Lazio and along the Southern Via Francigena
Entering Lazio, the city of Viterbo marks another key stop in the region's spa tradition along the Via Francigena. The Tuscia region around Viterbo is rich in springs, many of which were already exploited in Roman times.
The Bullicame, for example, has been known since antiquity and is also mentioned by Dante and Sigeric, while the Bagnaccio complex appears in the Tabula Peutingeriana and is located along the ancient Via Cassia, which later became part of the Francigena. Today, these spas are located just outside the city, but remain easily accessible with short detours, offering the pilgrim a rejuvenating break before continuing to Rome.
Finally, moving on to the southern variants of the Via Francigena, we come to the case of Telese Terme, in Campania. Here the sulphurous waters have given rise to an important spa centre that has developed in modern times, but is linked to springs already known in the past. Although not located on the main route, Telese represents a significant stop for those travelling the Via Francigena del Sud, ideally broadening the geography of spa culture along the pilgrimage routes.
Cultural value beyond well-being
The thermal baths along the Via Francigena are not just places to relax: they represent cultural bridges between past and present. Some springs, such as those that feed spas like Gambassi, were already known in past centuries and had attracted pilgrims and travellers seeking physical relief.
In addition, walking initiatives such as excursions planned around the thermal springs of the Via Francigena promote a form of experiential tourism: one walks, but also discovers the history of the waters, the local communities and the landscapes that have accompanied travellers for generations.
In times when the search for authentic and healthy experiences is growing, the synergy between the Way and the thermal baths along the Via Francigena is confirmed as a highly attractive element. This approach combines the needs of the modern pilgrim, physical well-being, connection with nature and cultural immersion, with an age-old tradition that has always seen water as a symbol of rebirth and health.
