Hot springs

So...as you can see...or read...i feel like writing about the hot springs....yes, i did say thermal baths...well i am going to correct myself, i meant hot springs. So, around where we live there are quite a few, from Bagni San Filippo to Saturnia to thermal baths in Montepulciano.....a lot. This time, we chose the ones closest to us, the natural ones, in other words the ones in Bagni San Filippo. Before i start, i am going to give a little bit of factual knowledge about what a hot spring is.....and here it is:

A hot spring is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater that rises from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth. While some of these springs contain water that is the correct temperature for bathing, others are so hot that immersion can result in injury or death.

There is no universally accepted definition of a hot spring. For example, one can find the phrase hot spring defined as any geothermal spring.

• A spring with water temperatures above its surrounding
• A natural spring with water temperature above body temperature – normally between 36.5 and 37.5 °C
• A natural spring with warm water above body temperature
• A thermal spring with water warmer than 36.7 °C
• A natural spring of water greater than 21.1
• A natural discharge of groundwater with elevated temperature
• A type of thermal spring in which hot water is brought to the surface. The water temperature of a hot spring is usually 6.5 °C or more above mean air temperature.
• A spring whose hot water is brought to the surface (synonymous with a thermal spring). The water temperature of the spring is usually 8.3 °C or more above the mean air temperature
• A spring with water above the core human body temperature – 36.7 °C
• A spring with water above average ambient ground temperature
• A spring with water temperatures above 50 °C

I think we all agree...enough theory...let's discuss our outing...Our day started by travelling from our home in Montisi through San Quirico d'Orcia through Bagnio Vigno to Bagni San Filippo.....now a little bit about that....

The springs at San Filippo are gorgeous! You can see that from the pictures, of course (which i will share just now). The calciferous formations, waterfalls and small pools of hot water surrounded by the woods just outside the small town of Bagni San Filippo in the Val d'Orcia will seem to take you to another world. The good thing is that there is an easy path that runs along the river and provides easy access.

Access to these hot springs is completely free! The area is quite long, but the first pools you find along the path near the road are shallow and therefore do not maintain their heat for long. If you follow the path further into the woods, you reach the massive formation of calcium and waterfall that has earned the nickname of the "White Whale". Here, the hot water of the springs meets the cold water of the river, giving the water a white-blue color that contrasts deeply with the green woods, creating a fascinating setting, particularly once the weather cools down and the warm water meets the cold air. If you keep walking further, you'll reach the rest of the pools that form the full Fosso Bianco right by the paid spa where their pool releases water down into the outdoor pools, increasing the water's temperature. The area has countless pools in which to sit down and relax! I think time to share some pics...enough writing...

White whale

Mutti standing by the White Whale

The waterfall is called the White Whale for its similarity to the mouth of a whale. The calcium formation is the most impressive formation of Bagni San Filippo.

Hot Springs

More Hot Springs

Kim and Ben enjoying the Hot Springs (Mutti, Sofia and I gave it a skip)

Scenery walking

I thought it was rather beautiful and impressive to see.....it is quite rural...i mean there are no changing areas and your feet get muddy and dirty...but a great experience. Next time i would also like to try, this time with Sofia i decided not to go inside the water. I felt the warer though, and it was warm.

After that we drove to Bagno Vignoni, well known for the large hot spring pool in the middle of town, which however, you are not allowed to use....in fact it is 49m long and 29m wide, from the bottom of which bubble up a number of hot springs whose theraputic quality has been renowned since antiquity.

Bagno Vignoni "pool"

Bagno Vignoni "pool"

Sofia at Bagno Vignoni

As you walk out from the small village/ hamlet, you have spectuacular views, including, the waterfall of the hot springs which plumet into a pool...have a look....

The "pool"

We did not walk down there, but next time, i definitely would like to have a walk down there and discover and see....i am curious to see how warm that water is...the colour to me seemed surreal..and hence i am interested to see this also. After that, it was time to get ice-cream, unfortunately there was no gelateria in Bagno Vignoni, hence we decided to drive to Pienza, was almost on the way home anyway...have a look at these views...

View of UNESCO Val d'Orcia

I find the view is just so breath-taking, so surreal...so beautiful...just wow....anyway.....moving on....with my mouth closed, hahaha....gelateria in Pienza...Kim and i shared pear & nuts and ricotta & figs...was very yummie...no sure whether i would take the ricotta again though...i think i would love to try the amarena, cause it looked very damn good...this is the ice-cream shop that i also once had the salted caramel....and it is famous for their good ice-cream, just outside the old town..and guess what...this time i took a pic...

Gelateria in Pienza

 

So yes, we discovered some more new places...and yes, there is still A LOT to discover, but we live here, so we definitely have time....just loving it here....for now though...i think i shared enough information and words...you might be tired of reading...so, i am going to say goodnight...and we chat soon....

 

Posted with Blogsy