The town of Saturnia is located on a hill in the area of Maremma, in southern Tuscany. We are slightly north of our route in Tuscia but this area deserves a small de tour. By an interesting coincidence, I happened to come here twice this year.

A few months ago, I dreamed that a friend of mine invited me to her house in the countryside to tell me that she was getting married. I hadn’t heard from her for a while, so I wrote to her to tell her about my dream. She didn’t reply at first, but after a few weeks she called me to tell me that indeed she was getting married and would be pleased to invite me to her bachelorette party and wedding, which would both take place in her country house in Manciano, near Saturnia. With great pleasure, I accepted the invitation and for her bachelorette party we spent a wonderful day at the spa to relax and rejuvenate.

About a month later, the big day came, and I booked a lovely bed and breakfast right next to the spa. One very inviting aspect of this area; besides the beauty of the nature and the hills, that according to the seasons have really intense colours; is the hospitality, both in terms of food and places to stay. If you are looking for a couple of days of complete relaxation in tune with nature, this is the ideal place. The thermal waters offer benefits as soon as you plunge into them and the natural thermal baths are open to the public at all hours. To go there at night is very romantic, watching the stars immersed in the warm waters that come out at about 37 degrees Celsius is truly a sight not to be missed, so much so, that some people even go there in winter. As opposed to many natural hot springs that are found in northern Lazio, the thermal baths of Saturnia have a totally different shape. While others offer small pools or ponds, here we find ourselves in a kind of natural river or waterfall with water flowing continuously. For those who don’t feel particularly wild, there are spas with every comfort and service just round the corner from the natural springs.

To complete a wonderful day in Saturnia, one can’t miss a delicious meal in one of the restaurants in the old town. I stopped to eat in a delightful restaurant sitting outside in the square, where I tasted some tasty ravioli with ricotta and pears ... I would go back now just for those, not to mention the wine!

In the centre of the square is a fountain with a statue of a women bathing in the thermal waters, symbolizing the main feature of the place. The old town is very pretty with its typical stone buildings and it’s perfectly taken care of. On top of the hill stands the Aldobrandesca fortress also known as Castello Ciacci. The original castle dates back to the Middle Ages, despite having been severely damaged during the centuries. Last century, another castle was built next to the fortress in neo-medieval style, which is visible from afar.

After bathing at the baths, enjoying a good lunch and a stroll through the town, you are completely exhausted. The baths are so relaxing that they have the power to wipe out any spark of energy anyone could have: which is ideal for relaxing, but if you had the intention of doing any other activity besides eating or sleeping, it probably won’t happen. Another warning: the smell of the sulphur waters is rather poignant and takes a few days to get rid of, but it’s definitely worth the trip and the dip.