|
terme di saturnia |
| SATURNIA , 23km northwest of Pitigliano, is renowned for its sulphurous hot springs . Plenty of buses run from Pitigliano west through Manciano to Orbetello on the coast , and there are three daily buses north along the minor road from Manciano to Saturnia (8am, 2pm & 6pm). Be sure to get off at the springs ( Le Terme ) and not at Saturnia village. The last return bus is at 1pm, but it shouldn't be too hard to hitch back. The large spa complex , with fierce admission charges, a vast pool and a five-star hotel ( www.termedisaturnia.it ) is 6km north of the village of Montemerano; some 200m before it (as the road takes a sharp curve) follow a dirt track off to the right, unsignposted but usually signalled by a cluster of cars and vans. Two minutes' walk from here brings you to the cascatelle , sulphur springs that burst from the ground, forming natural rock-pool jacuzzis of warm, turquoise water, in which you can lie around for hours submerged up to your neck. Entrance is unrestricted and free, but you'll need a shower to wash off the sulphur smell, which can linger for days. The nearest hotel is the excellent Albergo-Ristorante Stellata (tel 0564.602.978; L200,000-250,000/¬103.29-129.11), in an isolated spot 1km down from the falls on the road to Manciano, while the campsite Poggio alle Querce (tel 0564.602.568) is at Montemerano. |