Chianciano Terme Travel Guide

Chianciano Terme is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany , located about 90 km southeast of Florence and about 50 km southeast of Siena .

Chianciano Terme can trace its history back to the 5th century BC and the Etruscans , who had built a temple dedicated to the god of Good Health, close to the Silene springs where the newer quarter of Chianciano (the Terme section) stands today.

News of the curative power of Chianciano's water became well known during Roman times , as Horace visited the area on the advice of his physician during the 1st century BC . Luxurious Roman vilas were built in the area near the thermal baths.

Present day Chianciano Terme has two distinct areas: Chianciano Vecchia (Ancient Chianciano) is located atop a small hill. The Porta Rivellini, with its elegant Renaissance structure, is the main gateway into the town at the end of the Via Dante. In contrast to this is the modern quarter, the Terme , whose nucleus has grown around the thermal springs and stretches northward in a crescent shape along the Vale della Liberta towards the older city.

Today, the Terme section is considered among the finest health resorts in Italy with its parks, numerous hotels and especially its therapeutic water that is reputed to cleanse the liver via an increase in the production and excretion of liver bile. Among the more notable spas are: Acqua Santa, Acqua Fucoli, Acqua Sillene, Acqua Santissima (which also advertizes itself as a spa for those with respiratory problems), and Acqua Sant'Elena (also advertizes itself as having calcic-alkaline bicarbonate in its water to treat kidney and urinary tract problems).