Discovering the Ancient Thermal Baths of Val d'Elsa: A Journey Through History and Wellness

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Hello dear friends,

Today, on this gloomy rainy day, even though I’m formally back at work, I’ve prepared this post to share with you a place I discovered in Tuscany, which particularly impressed me for the history it represents for this region and for Italy, but especially for history lovers.

In fact, I’ve already mentioned the Val d’Elsa to you, a beautiful place from a naturalistic point of view, where I discovered the Caldane, these thermal baths that you see in the photos, located in the hamlet of Gracciano.

I found these thermal baths not in great condition, and this made me reflect on how the Etruscans, the most prevalent people in this area of Tuscany (but also in some parts of Umbria), used these pools with their warm water springs for their therapeutic properties, to heal from pain, and to feel better in a natural way. Nowadays, we tend to rely more on chemical medicine instead.

What’s remarkable is that the temperature of these waters was always above 20 degrees Celsius, even in the middle of winter, and they are rich in calcium salts.

As you can see in the photos, these baths are probably not very well known on a tourist level, even though they were rediscovered in the distant 1800s, and apparently, some restoration work was done to enhance these natural pools.

I think it would be nice to preserve these traditions, these places that have been historically important.

Anyway, if you want to experience taking a thermal bath in these places, I invite you to visit, especially because entry to this area is still completely free for now, and I hope it stays that way.

I have to say that I’ve taken baths in these pools several times, and while at first, it may not seem very pleasant, the benefits quickly become apparent.
I have to say that it makes me feel a bit strange to think that once upon a time this place was full of people who frequented it for their own well-being.
I hope you enjoyed the photos I shared, and I hope what I brought today, which is a bit different from the usual, was interesting. Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post.

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