San Casciano dei Bagni between the “Best Tourism Villages 2024” according to the World Tourism Organization

San Casciano dei Bagni was awarded “Best Tourism Villages 2024” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Launched in 2021, Best Tourism Villages is an initiative promoted by the UNWTO that intends to reward little towns all over the world that distinguish themselves for being sustainable destinations promoting their reality. Such award is very important for San Casciano dei Bagni, a village of the Valdichiana Senese that lately has become known thanks to the recent archeological findings.
 

San Casciano dei Bagni: the village and its history

Located in the province of Siena, San Casciano dei Bagni rose up on a hill between Umbria and Lazio. Known for its 42 thermal sources, San Casciano dei Bagni is one of the most beautiful towns of Italy apart from being one of the “bandiere arancioni” of Italian Touring Club.

According to the tradition, the first settlement of the town dates back to the Etruscan Age and in particular under the reign of King Lars Porsenna who might have found the so-called Bagni Chiusini. It was under the Roman domination however, that San Casciano dei Bagni became a real important center, both for the efficiency of the thermal sources and for its geographical location. In the following centuries, San Casciano dei Bagni experienced a significant decrease until the Medici regency, becoming one of the most appreciated destinations of the Italian and European aristocracy.

Nowadays the town is particularly cherished not only for its thermal pools, but also for the recent archeological findings. Since 2019, the archeological excavation promoted by the municipality, has revealed a great Roman-Etruscan sanctuary, considered to be between the most relevant Italian discoveries of the last 50 years. But the Sanctuary is not the only novelty. The excavation has brought to light 24 bronze statues in perfect state of conservation which will be exhibited soon in a dedicated new museum.
 

Why choosing San Casciano dei Bagni between the different destinations of the Valdichiana Senese

San Casciano dei Bagni is the ideal stop to escape from the stressful rhythms of the city life, a place far away from the mass tourism where to get your fill of wellness and culture. If you’ll decide to visit San Casciano, you cannot miss a relaxing bath in of the available thermal pools. However, if you prefer something different, San Casciano dei Bagni is full of monuments to visit. Between those that you cannot miss the “Insigne Collegiata di San Leonardo”, the principal church of San Casciano dei Bagni, and the “Chiesa di Santa Maria Ad Balnea”, a real and proper treasure built in the 11th century to host the pilgrims attracted by the beneficial thermal waters.

The events of San Casciano dei Bagni: special occasions to visit the town (and not only)

If it’s true that San Casciano dei Bagni presents a vast cultural offer, even when talking about events the selection is quite varied, beginning from “La Terrazza”, the cultural appointment that every summer promotes the town between art, cinema, literature, journalism and much more. In June is the turn of “Sagra del Ciaffagnone”, a typical dish of San Casciano. In August, San Casciano dei Bagni dresses itself on the occasion of “Palio di San Cassiano” the historical race where the four contrade of the town fight each other. The events also tak place in the sorroundings of San Casciano dei Bagni, as it happens with the "Sagra dei Pici" in Celle sul Rigo or with "La Festa del Vino" in Palazzone.