San Casciano Dei Bagni: Thermal Waters and Culture in Tuscany
Thermal Waters and a Long Cultural History
San Casciano Dei Bagni combines thermal waters, ancient traces, churches, pilgrimage routes and local cuisine into a destination with several cultural facets.
Bagno Grande and the Santuario Ritrovato
Bagno Grande is the most abundant spring in San Casciano dei Bagni. It produces 25 litres per second at 41.5°C and thus represents the importance of the thermal waters, which is also reflected in the history of the town. The Santuario Ritrovato is located at Bagno Grande, a Roman sanctuary complex built over older Etruscan structures. At its centre is an elongated travertine basin.
Inscribed altars, dozens of votive bronzes and a well-preserved Roman coin hoard come from this sacred basin. The finds show how closely the religious history of the town is connected with the water. Anyone interested in archaeology and the development of ancient places of worship will find a particularly tangible approach to San Casciano dei Bagni's past here.
Archaeology in the Town Hall
The Le Stanze Cassianensi exhibition is located in the entrance atrium of the town hall. It displays finds from the Balena necropolis, including inscriptions in Latin and Etruscan. The objects on display also include votive inscriptions, a statuette of Hygieia, Roman pottery and bronze votive offerings. The combination of written evidence, religious offerings and everyday objects provides a multifaceted view of the area's ancient past.
Churches, Pilgrimage Routes and Historical Layers
The religious buildings also tell of different eras. The Insigne Collegiata di San Leonardo is the main church of San Casciano dei Bagni and was elevated to the status of a collegiate church in 1618. Santa Maria ad Balnea is one of the oldest parish churches in the Diocese of Chiusi. Its history is closely connected with the thermal waters of San Casciano and their appeal to pilgrims travelling along ancient routes.
Santa Maria ad Balnea was built on the site of a former pagan sanctuary. In the early Middle Ages, a pillar or votive chapel for Christian worship was established there. The ancient routes were characterised by rest stops such as churches and hospices, which offered travellers accommodation, refreshment and care.
The Tuscan section of the Via Francigena ends in San Casciano dei Bagni, more precisely in the small town of Ponte a Rigo, before the route enters Lazio. This means that the history of the route is also one of the topics you can consider when exploring the town. The Teatro dei Georgofili Accalorati also provided space for smaller performances and public initiatives. After being restored according to a design by the architect Giampiero Chiucini, it resumed its activities in 1999.
A Carnival Dish
Ciaffagnone is part of the local character. San Casciano dei Bagni's typical Carnival dish is prepared in both a savoury and a sweet version during Carnival.
Other places: Celle Sul Rigo, Palazzone and Fighine.
To the general travel overview: Siena.
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