Photo © Anthony Gaudun
Photo © Anthony Gaudun
Towns and villages
Bagni San Filippo
Bagni San Filippo
Free thermal pools in a unique natural setting
Bagni San Filippo is a small village located between the Val d'Orcia and the Amiata known since ancient times for its hot thermal waters that have created, in the midst of a lush forest, an enchanted landscape of white limestone formations, small waterfalls and hot pools where you can bathe.
A wild, still untouched place that offers the chance to take a break in total relaxation.
Free thermal baths
Through an evocative footpath into the green, you arrive at the Balena Bianca (White Whale) waterfall: a huge block of limestone formed by the sediments of thermal waters.
The effect is rather striking as the snow-white color of the waterfall creates a strong contrast with the deep green of the surrounding forest.
The waterfall is so called because of its resemblance to the mouth of a whale: the hottest waters flow here, gushing out at 48º from the spring, guaranteeing a temperature so high that it is possible to dive even out of season.
It should be remembered that this limestone formation is very delicate: it is forbidden to touch it, walk on it or bathe near it.
However, there are numerous pools where you can bathe in peace.
The amount of water and its path to the waterfall changes frequently, especially in winter when the thermal waters mix with rainwater: in this way, the scenery is always different and, depending on the properties of the spring water, the colors often change as well.
At the bottom of these waters, the valuable thermal muds deposit, which are used for facial and body treatment.
Through an evocative footpath into the green, you arrive at the Balena Bianca (White Whale) waterfall: a huge block of limestone formed by the sediments of thermal waters.
The effect is rather striking as the snow-white color of the waterfall creates a strong contrast with the deep green of the surrounding forest.
The waterfall is so called because of its resemblance to the mouth of a whale: the hottest waters flow here, gushing out at 48º from the spring, guaranteeing a temperature so high that it is possible to dive even out of season.
It should be remembered that this limestone formation is very delicate: it is forbidden to touch it, walk on it or bathe near it.
However, there are numerous pools where you can bathe in peace.
The amount of water and its path to the waterfall changes frequently, especially in winter when the thermal waters mix with rainwater: in this way, the scenery is always different and, depending on the properties of the spring water, the colors often change as well.
At the bottom of these waters, the valuable thermal muds deposit, which are used for facial and body treatment.
What to see
A few kilometers from Castiglione d’Orcia, Bagni San Filippo also keeps in the center of the village the Church of San Filippo: originally the structure - of Gothic plan - stood on the top of the village but was abandoned because of moisture problems arising from the nearby sulfur springs; using the same stones as the ancient church of San Filippo, the new construction was built, which houses inside three stucco statues depicting San Filippo Neri (St. Philip Neri), San Filippo Apostolo (St. Philip the Apostle) and San Filippo Benizi (St. Philip Benizi).
Also of interest is the Grotta San Filippo Benizi (Cave St. Philip Benizi), a place of prayer and pilgrimage carved into the travertine rock from which, according to legend, thermal waters originally flowed.
A few kilometers from Castiglione d’Orcia, Bagni San Filippo also keeps in the center of the village the Church of San Filippo: originally the structure - of Gothic plan - stood on the top of the village but was abandoned because of moisture problems arising from the nearby sulfur springs; using the same stones as the ancient church of San Filippo, the new construction was built, which houses inside three stucco statues depicting San Filippo Neri (St. Philip Neri), San Filippo Apostolo (St. Philip the Apostle) and San Filippo Benizi (St. Philip Benizi).
Also of interest is the Grotta San Filippo Benizi (Cave St. Philip Benizi), a place of prayer and pilgrimage carved into the travertine rock from which, according to legend, thermal waters originally flowed.