Thermal Tuscany – San Filippo ai bagni

Tuscany, Italy, is a pretty nice travel destination.

Every time I go to the Tuscan countryside, I find myself fantasizing about moving to some old, Tuscan farmhouse and spending my time in that peaceful, rolling landscape.

My son goes to a running camp in the Tuscan region south of Siena, and I’ve already written about places to see in the area, including medieval gems Abbadia di San Salvatore and Sarteano, and the dormant volcano/mountain Monte Amiata.

That dormant volcano still produces lots of hot water, and that water, in turn, furnishes the outdoor, open springs of San Filippo ai bagni, not far from Abbadia di San Salvatore.

Apparently, there is an official, entrance-ticket spa in town, but we never made it there.

You can enjoy the same water for free by parking your car and walking to the thermal brook and its hot pools.

Look, Mom! Even the adults are playing in the mud.

The mud, too, can be placed on your skin, baked in the sun, and then rinsed off. It’s supposed to have rejuvenating powers.

It may be true, or it may just be rejuvenating to be spending time in this pretty spot in Tuscany rather than being at work. But hey, it never hurts to try, right? My kids certainly got a kick out of playing and smearing themselves with mud. But … err… I’m not sure that they emerged from their mud bath looking younger.

We had a great time visiting this pretty and relaxing outdoor spa, and when my son returns to his sprinting camp, we’ll definitely be back.

It must be an even more impressive place to visit on a cold winter day.

But however you enjoy the natural spa of San Filippo ai bagni – relax, leave all your troubles behind, and enjoy this pretty corner of Tuscany on your next visit to the region.