Saturnia Springs, also known as Terme di Saturnia, is a famous thermal spa and natural hot spring located in Tuscany, Italy. These thermal springs have been known and used for their healing properties for centuries.

The Springs have become popular on Instagram and TikTok for the beauty that is showcased in the videos and photos. After seeing the videos, I knew we had to stop there when we were in Tuscany. You often see the Instagram vs Reality videos, so instead we are doing an Instagram vs Reality post! But first I’ll share some more info about the Springs and then jump into our review!

What are the Hot Springs?

The Saturnia Hot Springs flow at a constant temperature of around 37.5°C (99.5°F). The water is rich in sulfur and other minerals, making it believed to have therapeutic and rejuvenating properties. There are many layers of the springs so it creates a unique waterfall location. The white limestone deposits with the color of the water create a unique landscape. Due to the rich minerals in the water, many people believe that the springs have healing properties for skin and health conditions.

The Saturnia Springs Deets

Cost: Free

Address: 58014 Manciano GR Italien

Time: 1.5 hours

Parking: Just up the road there is parking, we paid 5€ for two hours.

Transportation: We rented a car and drove there. It is possible to access via public bus.

There are a few other things to do while at the springs. Right before the springs is a small restaurant that serves food and drinks. It has a decent seating area for eating.

It is possible to rent bathrobes at the same area where the food is. This is also where you will find bathrooms and showers. The toilets were free but had no toilet paper (or soap and towels for hand washing). The showers were 1€ for two minutes. A small machine sits outside of the bathroom where you can insert your euro and receive your token for the shower. Or you can get your token at the shop if you also plan to eat there. The toilets and showers are separated by gender. Though the shower doors do not lock.

What to bring to Saturnia?

1. Swimsuit – Maybe one you don’t care about as much since the water can be damaging to clothes.
2. Towel – Or two if you want a clean one after showering. We use these microfiber towels that are fast drying and easy to pack.
3. Soap and Lotion – This is only if you plan to shower (which I highly recommend doing).
4. Hair tie – Many people put their hair in the water but I did not.
5. Good water shoes – The rocks are hard to walk on and my flipflops were not ideal.
6. Sunscreen and sunglasses – In the pools there is not shade so come prepared to be directly in the sun the entire time.

The Honest Review

I am sad. Like really, really sad. The reality of the Instagram pictures was not very good. We went on a weekday and arrived around 10 am and it was already extremely busy. So here is my sad list of why I didn’t feel this experience was worth it for me.

• The amount of people – if you aren’t arriving right at sunrise, there are likely going to be people around. I expected a few but it was very busy.
• It was kind of gross – there was some trash in the water and we passed a (very large) dead rat right by the pools. The water felt gross and smelled bad. Obviously it is a sulfur spring but it’s so easy to forget that when the pictures look pretty on the internet.
• The landscape around the springs – photos normally only show the springs themselves. If you face the other direction, it was a big hill of dirt. Not really a pretty view, or much of a view at all.
• The one shower was not enough – my skin felt so gross and I could still smell the sulfur on me. It took another shower of multiple scrubs and a lot of lotion to feel clean again (so glad I didn’t get my hair in the water!)
• The real colors – I don’t know what edits people are using, but the colors weren’t that amazing in my opinion. The white limestone is cool and the waters were light blue but nothing like the dramatic photos I’ve seen. Or maybe those photos are from the exact right time of day for perfect lighting. I’m not sure but I was unimpressed.

Were the Saturnia Hot Springs Worth It?

Once again, I am sad. I did not think my experience was worth it. We stayed just long enough to get some photos and walk around. The positive is we only paid for parking so it was decently cheap. It was also somewhat on the way to where we were going so it wasn’t a big deal to stop there. I would not plan to go there again. It was nice to do it once to say that we did it, but it wasn’t a great part of our trip. There have been other Italy activities that I’ve liked a lot better (like the Dolomites!).

Would you want to visit the Hot Springs? Let us know your experiences and trip plans below! Not sure about Hot Springs but want to try other areas of Italy? Click here –

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