Cascate del Mulnio and Saturnia
The warm, thermal waters of Saturnia are an amazing place to explore and visit whilst in Tuscany especially in the cooler Autumn months.
The thermal springs are located near to the beautiful town of Maremma and Saturnia itself, which is also one to add to your itinerary!
Saturnia, supposedly the oldest town in Italy, has a long and tangled history. The area has been inhabited since the time of the Etruscans, who called it Aurinia; it was the Romans were later renamed it Saturnia. During the medieval period it weathered numerous assaults from Orvieto and Siena, and the fortifications that the local feudal lords had built eventually proved powerless to prevent this part of the Maremma from being conquered. The marshes that the Etruscans and the Romans had so tirelessly drained seeped back in again. Only in 1828 did Duke Leopold II reinvigorate the land reclamation programme, and Saturnia started to welcome back a local population.
Saturnia stands on the summit of a hill, looking over the famous springs.
This unique and bustling Tuscan town stands near the remains of an Etruscan necropolis on the Roman Via Clodia, known also as the Via delle Terme, between the Via Cassia and the Via Aurelia. Not much remains to be seen or visited of the ancient settlement; of the old walls, dating back to the fourth and third centuries BC, we can still see the Porta Romana and an ancient bathhouse, which comprises a square, Roman-era pool next to the church of the Maddalena.
You can visit the Saturnia Archaeological Museum and see the finds unearthed in the local area. They date from prehistory up to the Roman period.
Cascate del Mulino
The warm waters, 37.5 degrees centigrade, bubble up through the ground from the earth’s crust thus making them rich in mineral deposits and giving off a slightly sulphuric odour!
These therapeutic waters have been used for centuries, first by the Etruscans, Romans and present day.
The Cascate del Molino are probably the most famous natural springs in Tuscany, set in the countryside, away from city noise, you can bath with just the sounds of nature and gushing water - what more could you ask for! Oh yes - they are FREE!
The natural pools are not deep and are ideal for lying down and completely relaxing - plus take in the scenic view.
While soaking in the waters, cover yourself with the white calcareous deposits as a natural skin therapy, the warm temperature is great for circulation and the vapours are beneficial to the respiratory system.
To replenish and hydrate yourself during your day, there is a cafe and snack bar.
Visiting these natural springs can be best at sunrise and during the night where you can relax and gaze into the starry sky.
The Cascate del Mulino is definitely worth adding to your itinerary - nature has a way of nourishing the body and soul and all it asks for in return is a little respect.
