The small spa town of Saturnia lies in the very south of Tuscany, about 60 km south of Grosseto, and the outdoor baths of Cascata di Mulino are particularly popular.
The town of Saturnia itself is truly miniature, with one small shop, a few hotels and restaurants and above all peace and rural tranquillity.
Saturnia lies in an idyllic gently rolling landscape of vineyards, olive groves and fields away from the drama and main tourist streams.
Cascata di Mulino
The main attraction is the outdoor sulphur-fed thermal spring, which flows down gentle stone cascades to create idyllic natural pools. Above the cascades stands the romantic building of an old mill and the entire bank is surrounded by tall reeds, which give the place a rural character.
The water in the cascades has a constant temperature of around 37 °C all year round and is ideal for treating skin and respiratory problems.
The Cascata di Mulino thermal spring is free and available 24 hours a day.
Terme di Saturnia
Between the village of Saturnia and the cascades, you can also visit a large spa complex full of thermal and massage pools, one of the largest in Tuscany. The complex is open daily from 9:30am, until 5pm during winter and until 7pm in summer.
All-day admission during the working week costs 25 eur, and on weekends and holidays 29 eur.
For a complete price list and information about the spa, visit termedisaturnia.it.
Sights in Saturnia
The town of Saturnia itself is very old and the original settlement dates back to Etruscan times.
However, the main monuments date back to around the 12th century, especially the defensive fortress of La Rocca, the Porta Romana entrance gate and the main church of Santa Maria Maddalena.
The village has an extremely peaceful rural atmosphere, which will be a welcome change from major destinations like Siena or Florence.
Saturnia Accommodation
As the village of Saturnia is located in a fairly remote area, it can definitely be advantageous to stay here for at least 1 night. Right by the outdoor baths of Cascata di Mulino, you can stay in the fully equipped holiday cottages of La Casa Delle Cascate.
How to get there
The best choice of transport to Saturnia is a hire car, which will also take you through the surrounding rural Tuscan countryside. Saturnia is roughly halfway between Florence or Pisa (about 179km) and Rome (167km).
Saturnia is served only by buses. The bus stop is in the middle of the village and then another one about 1 km from the cascades, there is a fenced path along the road the whole time.
Bus lines E01, E02, E03, E04 and 17P run here from the village of Manciano, where other services from Albinia connect to the railway station. Timetables for these lines can be found on the at-bus.it website.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Tuscany.
