The ancient village of San Casciano dei Bagni is located on the southern slopes of the Monte Cetona. Spa town frequented since Etruscan times , San Casciano is halfway between the Via Cassia and the Via Francigena.
What to see in San Casciano dei Bagni
Piazza Matteotti, just outside the city walls, is an excellent panoramic view point on the valley and it’s also the beginning of our visit in San Casciano dei Bagni. On the bottom of the square, the main city gate opens into the city walls. From there you will reach quickly the Collegiata di San Leonardo.
Collegiata di Santi Leonardo
The Collegiata di San Leonardois the main church in town. Built between the 13th and the 14th centuries, the church stands out for the beautiful portal in the facade and for some works hosted inside as the Francesco Oriolo’s Incoronazione della Vergine e Santi (Coronation of the Virgin and saints, about 1490). Also the bell tower built in 1606, is remarkable.
On the left of the Collegiata we find the first of the two oratories we want to mention: the oratory of Sant’Antonio. The other oratory is a little further along via Tuzia. The oratory della Concezione (of the conception ) is a small 16th century chapel with frescoes attributed to Niccolò Circignani know as the Pomarancio.
The thermal baths of San Casciano dei Bagni
There are many hot springs in the area of San Casciano dei Bagni, more than 40! Known for their many therapeutic properties the thermal waters in the area are accessible both through equipped facilities and using free-access pools.
Maybe it’s the free spas of San Casciano to be more famous than the equipped Spa. Some of these hot pots are the same ones that were built by the ancient Romans. The most famous are those called Bagno Grande and Bagno Bossolo, also known as the “vasconi” (big tubes). To get there from the village, you have to go down the hill for few hundred meters from the city centre.
How to get to San Casciano dei Bagni
San Casciano is a small isolated village so we definitely suggest to go by car.
By car: coming from the north (Siena, Florence), highway A1 till the exit for Chiusi, from there take the SP478 and turn on Strada Provinciale della Montagna di Cetona after Sarteano.
Coming from the south (Rome), highway A1 till the exit for Fabro, then SP54,SP308 and SP321.
By train and bus: by train you can get to Chiusi, then you have to take a bus line T10 by Siena Mobilità/Tiemme.
