[button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/”%5D Overview [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/2/”%5D What’s Included [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/3/”%5D Where We Stay [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/4/”%5D Itinerary [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/5/”%5D FAQ’s [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/6/”%5D Helpful Italian Hints [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/7/”%5D Arriving in Florence [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/8/”%5D About Your Guides [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/9/”%5D Favorite Photos [/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/10/”%5D Activities[/button][button link=”http://www.alchemytours.com/2014/01/tuscany-italy-yogaretreat-june-2015/11/”%5D What to Pack [/button]

ACTIVITIES

TUSCAN COOKING CLASS

WALKING TOURS

VOLTERRA ALABASTER TOUR

CASTLE VISITS

CYCLING TOURS

MEDITERRANEAN EXCURSION

PETRIOLO HOT SPRINGS AND SPA

The Petriolo’s thermal baths are very ancient. The Romans knew and appreciated them. It is very likely that these are the baths mentioned by the orator Marco Tullio Cicero in his pro Marco Caelio.

Recently, Roman tombs have been found in the area, proof of a long time recognition of the beneficial effects of this water.

It is without doubt that these hot springs were highly appreciated in the Middle age and during the Renaissance period. As early as 1215, the Republic of Siena maintained a series of “stationes”, a sort of “bathing hut” for single “bathers”, similar to today’s beach cabins.

Many important people are known to have frequented the Petriolo thermal baths: the Medici, Lords of Florence, the Gonzaga, Lords of Manuta and leading exponents of the Church including Pope Pious II Piccolomini.

Also of note are the remains of the ancient walls built in 404 in the typical Sienese architectural style, which are the only exisitng example of fortifies thermae (fortified thermal baths).

Of the original baths, composed by four groined vaulted rooms, only one room still exists. It opens onto the river Farma with arches built on octagonal pillars. Besides the hot springs, the Farma river is perfect for bathing and swimming. http://termepetriolo.it/it/

FOOD FAVORITES