At Borgo Scopeto Relais we love to pamper our guests uttlerly and competely, which is why we have created a small but very nice wellness centre & Spa, the Borgo Scopeto Relax. But we are also great nature lovers, so we cannot fail to tell you about the thermal baths around Siena and suggest some of the best itineraries in Tuscany.
Thanks to the presence of Mount Amiata, a now extinct volcano located south of our region, in the there are the largest number of spas and natural baths in this area, some even free, where beneficial and purifying waters flow. Most of these are located in Val d’Orcia and Val di Chiana, about an hour drive from our hotel.
Bagni di San Filippo
Immersed in a very suggestive landscape, the Bagni di San Filippo are located near San Quirico d’Orcia, on the slopes of Monte Amiata. They are a free thermal bath area in the middle of the woods, which looks like something out of a fairy tale; surrounded by steaming pools of crystal clear water and limestone cascades, it is nicknamed "White Whale" due to the shape of the huge rock that flows into the Fosso Bianco stream. Its waters are rich in sulfur, calcium and magnesium and have a temperature ranging from 30°C to 40°C. They are particularly suitable for neuro-articular, respiratory and skin problems.
Bagno Vignoni
Also located in Val d’Orcia, Bagno Vignoni is a splendid thermal bath village known for its beneficial waters since the times of the Etruscans and Romans. Its Piazza delle Fontane is very characteristic, a medieval basin where water flows at 50°C located in the center of the town, where, however, it is now forbidden to dive. Around the square there are Renaissance buildings enclosed by the surrounding meadieval walls. Outside of these, surrounded by greenery is the Parco dei Mulini, remains of the ancient mills that were powered by the thermal water and, following the flow of the Orcia river, a natural pool where you can swim freely. The sulphurous waters of Bagno Vignoni are particularly suitable for those suffering from neuralgia, arthritis and rheumatism.
Chianciamo Terme
The city of Chianciano Terme instead develops between the Valdorcia and the Valdichiana. A well-known spa area, known as early as the 1st century AD, today houses the most prestigious spa in Tuscany. It consists of four different sources:
• the Acqua santa (Holy water) of 32°C of bicarbonate-sulphate-alkaline-earthy type;
• the water of Sillene, or St. Agnes, of 35°C, which comes from the bottom of an extinct volcanic crater;
• 16.5°C Fucoli water of the bicarbonate-sulphate-alkaline-earthy type;
• St. Helena water of 13°C of medium-mineral bicarbonate-alkaline-earthy type.
These waters are very suitable for the treatment of numerous pathologies, for this reason Chianciano has become an important health and rehabilitation center, equipped with specialist clinics and swimming pools with specific wellness programs and treatments.
Terme di Montepulciano
The Terme di Montepulciano are located in a very rich context both from a natural and cultural point of view. Straddling the beautiful landscape of the Crete Senesi, the fertile fields of the Valdichiana and the hills of the Val d’Orcia, in the land of the renowned Vino Nobile. Its thermal baths have been well known since the fifteenth century, thanks to its waters rich in bromine and sulfur, essential for fighting skin, respiratory and rheumatic problems. Its favorable position and the strong vocation of its thermal waters have made the Terme di Montepulciano an important Tuscan health and prevention center. As in Chianciano, here too there are specialist clinics able to offer ad hoc treatments for a psycho-physical well-being.
Terme di Petriolo
An almost uncontaminated nature surrounds the Petriolo thermal baths. Located in the municipality of Monticiano, along the Farma river, in the Ombrone valley, among oak, holm oak and Mediterranean scrub forests. They consist of natural pools of water at 43°C positioned on several levels. Rich in hydrogen sulphide, they are very suitable for treating the respiratory tract. The proximity of the Farma also allows great benefits at the circulatory level, alternating baths in hot water in the springs with those in cold water in the river. Walking barefoot along the watercourse you can enjoy additional benefits, thanks to the massaging effect of its stones.
San Casciano dei Bagni
Located on the slopes of Monte Cetona, with 42 thermal springs, San Casciano dei Bagni is one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy. The best known sources are the Doccia della Testa, the Docce Nuove(New Showers), the Ficoncella, the Caldagna, Santa Lucia, the Bagno Grande, the Bagno Bossolo. The landscape that surrounds it is very fascinating and its baths are still today as the Romans had built them. Bagno Grande and Bagno Boscolo, or "i vasconi"(great tubs) as they are called by the locals, are two large wash houses, which are easily reachable by foot thanks to the 500 meters path from the main square, where it is possible to swim even in winter, thanks to its waters that flow around 40°C. Very rich in sulfur, calcium, magnesium and fluoride, they are very suitable for the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases, from rheumatism to liver, digestive and reproductive system diseases. Its natural muds are also very beneficial for skin health.
How about you, have you ever been to the thermal bath? Let us know.
