Maremma, Tuscany and the Saturnia Spa area
La Fornacina lies upon the hills of Saturnia Terme, between the Albegna and Fiora river valleys. It is in an area called Maremma, Toscana, halfway between Rome and Florence, in the province of Grosseto.
Saturnia, where wellness springs!
Saturnia Terme has drawn avid visitors since the time of the Roman Empire. It lies amongst the hills of Maremma, in the wildest and most southern part of Tuscany. The hot springs of Saturnia are the hub of this vast territory, which spans the area between Mount Amiata and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Even today, the exclusive spa of Saturnia is internationally renowned.
Although it is a small village, Saturnia has been world-famous for thousands of years. Thanks to its hot springs, it was inhabited since the dawn of civilization. According to ancient tales, it was the first town founded in the Italian peninsula during the Villanovan age (the earliest Bronze Age in central Italy, about 900 BC).
Saturnia is a part of the Comune di Manciano, administered by the Province of Grosseto. It is an area along the hills bordering River Albegna with a population of about 500 people, equidistant between the seaside and the mountains, as both the Argentario promontory and Monte Amiata are only a forty-minute drive away.
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The sulphurous waters of Saturnia have gushed by as much as 800 liters per second for 2000 years, in the midst of a green valley surrounded by hills. The ancient village of Saturnia is right on top of the highest hill of the area, and only 8 minutes drive from La Fornacina.
Water flows to the surface at a temperature of 37.5° C, from a spring located under the spa swimming pool which has a volcanic crater as its floor. It then forms the Gorello thermal stream which flows through the level land for hundreds of meters before it naturally produces the spectacular waterfalls of Mulino that finally flow into the Stellata underground stream.
The waterfalls of Mulino are one of the most striking and renowned spots of Saturnia. The falls are full of bathers both day and night. They are about 2 km away from the village of Saturnia, right past the spa entrance and the gas station. To access them, you can see a dirt road along the car park at a bend of the main road. In the higher part of the falls, you can walk up the thermal stream known as Gorello, and find a more intimate spot to bathe.
You can also access Gorello near the car park of the spa. Just before the entrance there is a chain blocking access to the field. 50 meters past that chain you can bathe in the thermal stream.
The wellness Hotel Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort is situated at the foot of the medieval village's namesake, in the heart of Maremma, Toscana. It is an enchanting place to soothe your mind and body. The thermal waters of Saturnia flow right from a spring in the hotel's swimming pool at a temperature of 37.5°C.
The Golf Club - one of the most exclusive 18-hole clubs in Tuscany, was opened in 2008. It is 8 km away from La Fornacina.
Maremma Tuscany
There are several sites of remarkable historic, touristic and natural importance nearby. The wonderful and wild territory of Maremma extends from Mount Amiata to the shores of Argentario, in the extreme south of Tuscany, known as “Europe's Garden”. It is a land of butteri (cowboys from Maremma), rustic traditions and vast, open spaces.
La Fornacina and Saturnia are right in the heart of Maremma. A pleasant drive through the country can lead you to Capalbio and the Giardino dei Tarocchi; the “Città del Tufo” (cities of tufa) Sovana, Pitigliano and Sorano; Mount Amiata and its surrounding villages; the area where the famous red wine “Morellino di Scansano” is produced; and the beaches of Argentario.
Saturnia Terme is the hub of a vast, wonderful district spanning all possible types of topography, from thermal hills and archaeological sites, to mountains with their majestic vistas, from wildlife parks to medieval villages; even sea shores, beaches and uncontaminated islands!
Cycling, hiking and horse riding are also good ways to discover this ancient land.
