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Horace, in a letter to Numonio Valla, mentioned the therapeutic properties of
San Casciano’s waters. According to tradition, reported also by the Florentine
Domenico Maria Manni between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Etruscan
lucumo of Chiusi, Porsenna, founded the Chiusini Baths, highly regarded and frequented
even by the Romans owing to the water’s beneficial properties, the vicinity of
Rome and the Via Cassia, one pisciof the busiest roads leading north from Rome
in the Imperial period. San Casciano became a truly popular thermal location from
the seventeenth century on when aristocrats and ecclesiastics came to San Casciano
from all over Europe to undergo water treatments. It became such a highly renowned
thermal spa station that the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de’Medici had a portico built
near the Ficoncella spring in 1607. The Grand Duke Peter Leopold I of Habsburg
Lorraine, during a visit to San Casciano in October 1769, was so struck by the
spring water’s flow and temperature that he ordered the construction of a new
road connecting with the Roman Road (former Via Francigena and current Via Cassia).
It is true that the foundation and development of this small town set between
the Val d’Orcia and the Val di Paglia are closely linked to the thermal waters.
Today this central Italian gem has been returned to its past glories by Fonteverde.
Its sulfate, calcic, fluorite and magnesic waters that spring at a temperature
of 42° degrees and a state-of-the-art wellness center have gained it a reputation
as one of the world’s best spas. Over one hundred different beauty and wellness
treatments, many pools, two of which (indoor) are devoted to Thalaquam and Watsu
treatments. A third pool, Bioaquam (partly indoor and partly outdoor), offers
22 different types of hydromassage. With its innovative and high-end offerings,
Fonteverde has been recently awarded SpaFinder’s Crystal Award as “Best Spa in
Europe” and is considered one of the world’s leading spas. Fonteverde will soon
have a new outdoor pool which adds to the other benefits currently being offered
and increases the resort’s appeal to a high-end clientele. The new pool-entirely
covered with travertine- is designed to contain only cold water so as to offer
customers comfort and relief in the summer season. The pool will be placed on
a terrace covered with grass and flowers overlooking the surrounding hills.
CASINA DELLE ROSE
Casina delle Rose is a beautiful Art-Nouveau style small building standing in
Fonteverde’s park. Within a few days, it will be given new life. New because in
the sixties it was a teenagers’ hangout. The Albatros band played live music,
there was a bar and pizzeria and later on a disco club and a restaurant. It was
used in different ways over the years. Casina delle Rose has always been the reason
why Roman teenagers gladly spent their summer vacations in San Casciano dei Bagni
with their parents who, in turn, were attracted by the water treatments and the
“pure air”. Many young people got engaged and planned their wedding on that porch
where they spent hours listening to the juke box, not to mention the jealous scenes
and secret liaisons that contributed to its legend. Friends still enjoy telling
stories of those days. Passionate friendships and love affairs lasted forever
thanks to the fun and music of those unforgettable nights. After many years of
neglect, Casina delle Rose has been carefully restored. Once again it will be
a venue where people meet for a drink, to see a film or talk about a book. But
also a space for exhibits, events, conferences and debates. It will come back
to life at last.
FERDINANDO I
Cooking goes with the global trend of the rediscovery of traditions following
in fashion, design and spas’ wake. Chefs give up experimentation and “nouvelle
cuisine” and adopt an old-style approach to cooking.
The healthy yet tasty Mediterranean cuisine is internationally recognized as
a balanced diet that is good for one’s health.
That is why the dishes prepared by Fonteverde’s chef Luca Ciaffarafà feature
a superb combination of tastes of the past and top-quality light ingredients in
addition to being beautifully presented.
The menus are varied and meet the needs of coeliacs, vegetarians, overweight
people and Tuscan cuisine lovers.
The restaurant “Ferdinando I”, recently renovated, offers a warm and friendly
atmosphere and a skilful staff run by the maitre d’ Guglielmo Papini. In summertime,
enjoy an unforgettable candle-lit dinner on the terrace with a unique view of
the Val d’Orcia.
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