San Casciano dei Bagni

San Casciano dei Bagni is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 110 kilometres (68 mi) southeast of Florence and about 70 kilometres (43 mi) southeast of Siena. Geography San Casciano dei Bagni borders the following municipalities: Abbadia San Salvatore, Acquapendente, Allerona, Cetona, Città della Pieve, Fabro, Piancastagnaio, Proceno, Radicofani, Sarteano. It is a member of "prettiest Italian villages" (borghi piu belli d'Italia). History The history of San Casciano is strictly connected to the presence of hot waters, with 42 springs, a mean temperature of 42 °C (108 °F) and a daily delivery of 5.5 million litres (1,500,000 US gal) (third in Europe). According to a legend, the Balnea Clusinae were founded by Porsenna, an Etruscan king of Chiusi. The baths were popular also during the Roman era, Augustus being amongst its users. In the 3rd to 4th centuries a Christian Pieve of St. Mary ad balneo existed in San Casciano. During the Middle Ages it was initially under Lombard rule, and later under the Visconti di Campiglia and the Abbey of San Salvatore. Troops of San Casciano took part at the Battle of Montaperti in 1260. The last Visconti ruler was Monaldo, who was also podestà of Florence in 1389. San Casciano was acquired by the Republic of Siena in 1412. In Renaissance times its baths attracted visitors from all over Europe, but they decayed from the 19th century, recovering only from the early 21st century. Demographic evolution Sightseeing Lago di San Casciano References External links Media related to San Casciano dei Bagni at Wikimedia Commons (Italian) San Casciano dei Bagni official website