Surrounded by the hills of Maremma, among pretty villages where time stands still, you get in the hot springs of Saturnia, an oasis of peace and wellness
  • Travelling time: an hour
  • Difficulty: Family
  • Why we love it: Because we are in the heart of the wonderful Maremma and because the hot springs of Saturnia are spectaculars!
  • Length: 11 km
  • Total Elevation Gain: 0 m
  • Way to travel: by bike
  • Cost: 0 €
  • Our Advice: The Maremma is a perfect destination for eco-travelers, here nature reigns nearly undisturbed. Don't miss the other villages and other paths in the area!

We are in Maremma, one of the most beautiful areas of Italy. In this magical Tuscan place we can admire a great variety of environments and ecosystems: in a few kilometers we can go from the hills to the sea, from the mountains to the lagoon.

Manciano is in the heart of Maremma. Surrounded by walls, it stands on a hill; from its fortress, overlooking the entire village, you can see a spectacular view; our eyes, through a succession of hills, reaches the sea on the one hand and the Mount Amiata and Lake Bolsena on the other. It’s the perfect spot for many routes between art, nature and gastronomy, and today we bring you to the beautiful Hot Springs of Saturnia. Here you can find all the sustainable accommodation in Manciano and surroundings for a holiday in the Tuscan countryside.

 

Manciano in the evening, magical village of the Maremma
Manciano in the evening

 

The route is short and suitable for everyone, and, in addition to the bicycle, it’s accessible by foot or on horseback. We bike through the beautiful hills of Maremma, accompanied by the sounds of nature, until we get to Montemerano. In this charming medieval village there are many both Romanesque and Renaissance art masterpieces, such as the Church of St. George and the collection within the Church itself.

 

An alley of Montemerano, nice medieval village of the Tuscan Maremma
The inner city of Montemerano, photo by nicolas courlet via Flickr

The second section of the route is mostly flat; we can enjoy the nature and the land where the exquisite wines and great traditional gourmet recipes are born. And so we reach the Hot Springs of Saturnia, an enchanting place that will surprise you. Here small waterfalls make natural pools with exceptional characteristics: the temperature of pure water, enriched with a high concentration of minerals, remains constant at 37.5°C, creating a place of total relaxation and wellness already known by the ancient Etruscans.

 

The natural pools of Saturnia made by small waterfalls
The Hot Springs of Saturnia, photo by Jarle Refsnes via Flickr

For those who want to continue the discovery of the Maremma we suggest you the path to be traveled on foot from Saturnia, which arrives in San Martino sul Fiora, through the archaeological site of Poggio Murella and the area of ​​Tufi of Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana, three magical and evocative medieval villages.

 

Pitigliano, village of the area of Tufi, near the hot springs of Saturnia
Pitigliano, photo by Bernward Harz via Flickr

Slow itineraries are the best way to discover this part of Tuscany, a place where nature reigns and man adapts and develops harmoniously with it. The Maremma is made of views and perfumes, but also of art and history, light and colors.

 

Cover image: Summer view of the Maremma, photo by Dimit®i via Flickr

Author: Chiara Marras

 

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