Tuscany: Saturnia

While driving around Italy we saw in the map these thermal baths in a town called Saturnia. We had spend the night in Rome, and Saturnia was not too far away so we decided to drive there. After an hour of interminable zig-zag roads our daughter started to feel ill so we decided to stop at the side of the road. Our daughter was needing some fresh water and the toilet, so I decided to knock on a door and ask for it! The lady who came out was ever so helpful, that we ended up friends. It was this lady who told us the secret of Saturnia. "You must go there, but do not go to the pools" she said. "We Italians go to the cascades, they are more fun for the children and they are free!". Our new friend gave us directions to find the cascades and a little picnic basket with fresh products from her vegetable-fruit garden for the trip.

We were enchanted when we finally arrived to Saturnia. A small village in Toscana. surrounded by deep valleys and soft hills filled with Olive trees. The village is at the top of a rocky hill so from Saturnia you can have a view of the entire valley.

Saturnia is famous for its sulphuric waterfalls a 37°C (98.6° F) all year round. You can choose to bathe in one of the exclusive swimming pools in the Thermes (around 50 euros per person), or like us, you can venture in the field and have a go in the cascades of sulphuric water. If you arrive early enough in the morning you can even have the cascades all for yourself. The thermal baths were already famous at Roman times for its therapeutic properties and it certainly did work for our daughter's runny nose!.

The legend says that when Saturn was angry, he sent lightning at the centre of Saturnia and this, caused the escape of vapours and hot sulphuric water. A lovely legend for a place that has been documented to exist at least 2800 years.

Apart from the thermal baths, outside the medieval walls of Saturnia you can walk along the Maremma and admire its beauty. La Maremma is the name for the South-West of Tuscany. The region is between the Monte Amiata (an extinct volcano) and the sea. It you are a bit of a walker, you can even get all the way to Sovana or Pitigliano. You might even walk all the way to the sea!

Also, the area is well known for its cuisine. There is also a beauty farm, and a golf course in Saturnia.

Distances:

• One and a half hours from Rome

• One hour from Sienna

• 4O minutes from the seaside.

Where to stay?

• You can rent a villa for around 150 euros a night (sleep 6).

• There are plenty of apartments for rent.