The spas and the province of Siena

Starting with the Bagni San Filippo, which are located near Monte Amiata, within the splendid UNESCO site of the Val d'Orcia. Here, completely immersed in nature, among the trees and rocks, you will find genuine limestone formations that resemble frozen waterfalls. Descending towards the valley, the waters flow into the Fosso Bianco, a stream immersed in the woods where several thermal springs converge in a succession of small natural and artificial pools. The symbol of this place is the Balena Bianca, the most striking of the waterfalls: a huge block resembling the mouth of a cetacean, formed by the sediments of the thermal waters. What makes it even more spectacular is the contrast between the white and the green of nature, and the shades of the thermal water blending with those of the stream. On the edge of the province of Siena is San Casciano dei Bagni, where there are 42 thermal springs, making the spa complex the third largest in Europe in terms of water quantity. Known since ancient times—the springs were discovered by the Etruscans—this was one of the emperor Octavian Augustus’s best-loved places. Today, the many public thermal pools, hidden among the lush groves, and the elegant private spas, combined with the pristine and evocative environment, make San Casciano one of the favourite destinations for wellness lovers.

Bagno Vignoni is another beautiful medieval village. A distinctive feature is its square, with the large 16th‑century thermal basin, no longer in use today but still full of charm. The town is located on a volcanic fault which, since the time of the Etruscans, has made the area an important tourist destination. A spectacular system of small waterfalls starts from the top of the fault, carrying water to the valley below. Here the boiling water collects in natural pools, taking on a magnificent crystal-clear blue colour. Finally, in the territory of the municipality of Monticiano, the Petriolo Baths are located on the banks of the River Farma, which flows into the River Merse. Cited by Cicero and Martial, the free baths are located in an inlet of the stream and their water, charged with hydrogen sulphide, among other things, reaches a temperature of 43º. Around the fifteenth century, the first thermal bath facility built of masonry was constructed in Petriolo, and during the Renaissance the baths became so prestigious that some members of the Medici and Gonzaga families went there.

In addition to the public thermal baths, the province of Siena abounds in famous destinations with magnificent private spas: from those in Chianciano to the spas in Montepulciano; beautiful villages nestled in the lovely Valdichiana. Not to mention the Municipality of Rapolano with its spa facilities. A magnificent land, therefore, that offers characteristic landscapes such as the "Crete Senesi" which, together with the spectacular city of Siena, famous for the Palio, have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The whole area is dotted with typical medieval villages, immersed in the quiet of the Tuscan countryside. Chief among them, the small town of Pienza, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the grace of its centre. In Valdichiana, in addition to Montepulciano and Chianciano, the silent and secluded village of Chiusi stands near the lake of the same name.