A weekend based in Poggibonsi allows you to visit three of Tuscany’s finest thermal destinations without long transfers and without rushing. This itinerary is designed for those who set off on Friday evening or Saturday morning and return home on Sunday.
This is not a “see everything” itinerary: it is designed to enjoy the waters, the landscape and local cuisine at the right pace.
Bagno Vignoni in the morning, Bagni di San Filippo in the afternoon, Saturnia on Sunday: three completely different landscapes, three waters with their own character. All within a 100 km radius of Poggibonsi. No other Italian region can offer this.
Why Tuscany is perfect for a thermal weekend
The density of thermal springs within 100 kilometres of Poggibonsi is unmatched in Italy. Saturnia, Bagno Vignoni, Bagni di San Filippo, Rapolano Terme: each has a different character, each lies within a landscape worth seeing in its own right.
The advantage of basing yourself in Poggibonsi is the location: halfway between Siena and Florence, on the route leading towards the Val d’Orcia and the Maremma. The roads are good, the scenery magnificent, and you can return to base each evening without long drives.
A thermal weekend in Tuscany is not just physical relaxation: it is a way to immerse yourself in the countryside and minor roads of the region, away from the art cities and well-trodden circuits.
Day 1 morning: Bagno Vignoni and the Val d’Orcia
Saturday morning begins with the drive from Poggibonsi to Bagno Vignoni. About 60 kilometres, one hour along the Via Cassia. Arrive before noon.
The first stop is the piazza of Bagno Vignoni: the thermal pool, the steam, the medieval porticoes. Stroll, photograph, browse a few shops selling local produce (the Val d’Orcia Pecorino and olive oil are excellent here).
For bathing, head down to the free Gorello Terme pools (natural rock pools along the stream) or pay entry to one of the private thermal establishments. A couple of hours at the baths is ideal.
Lunch in San Quirico d’Orcia, just 7 kilometres away: a small medieval village with good trattorias and reasonable prices. The Collegiata di San Quirico is worth a five-minute stop.
Day 1 afternoon: Bagni di San Filippo
On Saturday afternoon, head to Bagni di San Filippo, about 20 kilometres from Bagno Vignoni. Arrive in the late afternoon, when the daytime crowds have thinned.
The natural pools among white travertine rocks and dark green forest offer a completely different atmosphere from the morning at Bagno Vignoni: wilder, quieter. The “Balena Bianca” (White Whale) travertine formation is worth visiting even just to admire the geological shapes.
Return to Poggibonsi in the late evening, retracing the Via Cassia northward. Dinner at the hotel or at Ristorante Alcide, located within Hotel Alcide.
Day 2: Saturnia and the return journey
Sunday is devoted to Saturnia - the most distant destination but also the most spectacular. The key advice: set off early. The Gorello waterfalls fill up quickly, and weekend parking can already be full by 9.30-10am.
From Poggibonsi to Saturnia takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. Leaving at 7.30-8am, you arrive by 9.30am while there are still parking spaces available.
Spend the morning at the falls: two to three hours in the 37.5°C thermal water, in the Maremma landscape. Eat something near the falls or in the village of Saturnia itself (3-4 km away).
On the afternoon return to Poggibonsi, a stop in Montalcino, Siena, or one of the villages along the way is possible depending on energy levels.
How to manage the transfers
All transfers on this itinerary require a car. There is no convenient public transport to Saturnia, Bagno Vignoni or Bagni di San Filippo.
The roads are predominantly provincial and secondary: beautiful to drive, scenic, but not fast. The times given are realistic with normal traffic. On summer weekends, the area around Siena can see some delays, but the Maremma roads are almost always clear.
Fuel costs for the entire weekend (approximately 350-400 km in total) are the main budget item, in addition to any paid admission to thermal establishments.
Hotel Alcide in Poggibonsi: the ideal base for this itinerary
Hotel Alcide is perfectly positioned as a base for a thermal weekend: central enough to reach all destinations in reasonable time, with parking and breakfast included to get early starts.
Since 1849, the Ancillotti family’s property has welcomed travellers who use Poggibonsi as a starting point for exploring Tuscany. The location - between the Val d’Elsa, the Chianti and the route towards the Val d’Orcia - is genuinely strategic.
Well-appointed rooms allow you to return tired after the baths and set out refreshed the following day.
Planning a trip to Tuscany?
Hotel Alcide is in Poggibonsi, in the heart of the Val d’Elsa.
25 km from Siena, 12 from San Gimignano, in the heart of Chianti.
The Ancillotti family has welcomed guests here since 1849.
