The spectacular hot springs of Bagni San Filippo
Today we continue our journey into the world of hot springs in Tuscany talking about Bagni San Filippo. Bagni San Filippo is a small spa town in the municipality of Castiglione d’Orcia, a short distance from Mount Amiata.
Il nome della località deriva da quello di San Filippo Benizi che, secondo la tradizione, si rifugiò da queste parti nel 1269 al fine di non partecipare al conclave di Viterbo durante il quale sarebbe potuto diventare Papa.
As many others spa town in Tuscany, the thermal baths of Bagni San Filippo are known since antiquity and have hosted numerous prominent personalities as Lorenzo il Magnifico and Cosimo I dei Medici.
The water of Bagni San Filippo
The waters that flow from the springs in the area are sulphurous and, as we will see, rich in calcium carbonate. Very warm waters that reach temperatures around 50° C (122° F)! The peculiar properties of these waters make them effective in combating certain types of diseases such as those of the respiratory system and the dermatologic ones.
Free spas of Fosso Bianco
Fosso Bianco is composed by many pools and waterfalls that follow each other in fascinating scenery in the middle of the forest. A wide area where is possible to have a bath in every season, also in winter. To get to the Fosso Bianco you have to take a well-marked trail that winds through the Woods. Soon you will begin to encounter the first tanks with thermal water and later you will see behind the trees a spectacular limestone formation known as the “White Whale” due to the resemblance to the mouth of a whale. This is the heart of the thermal area of Bagni San Filippo, where the nature has created a real show!
In addition to free thermal baths, Bagni San Filippo, there is also a spa equipped where they run various types of medical and cosmetic treatments (face masks etc.) through the use of water and mud.
What to do and what to see around Bagni San Filippo
If the thermal baths of Bagni San Filippo are not enough, you just have to go to Bagno Vignoni. Among the many other places to see in the wonderful Val d’Orcia, you cannot miss the fortress of Radicofani, the abbey of Sant’Antimo and the towns of Montalcino, Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia.
How to get to Bagni San Filippo
By car: from Siena (65 km) you must take the Regional Road 2 Cassia until the turn in the direction of Bagni San Filippo on SP61
By bus: from Siena line 54A of Siena Mobilità.
