A series of hikes with rurAllure to rediscover the thermal heritage along the Via Francigena in Tuscany. On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May 2022, the project brought together more than 50 hikers and passionate walkers along stages 31 and 36 of the Via Francigena to explore at a slow pace thermal heritage, landscapes and villages in the proximity of the Sigeric’s route.
The two free walks “I love Francigena thermal by rurAllure” were organised by the European Association of Vie Francigena ways (AEVF) in collaboration with the municipalities of Castiglione d’Orcia, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, San Quirico d’Orcia, Proloco Gambassi Terme and The Gambassi Experience.
Together with the institutions, mayors, councillors but also journalists and bloggers, the hikers spent two days on the route, enjoying the nature, culture, wine and food and, of course, thermal heritage.
Conducted in the framework of the pilot “Thermal Heritage and others on the Ways to Rome”, these walks make part of various activities such as research, study visits, excursions, and meetings with local stakeholders.
The hikers discovered the magnificent Piazza delle Sorgenti in Bagno Vignoni, the town central square with a large pool of thermal water, unique in its kind. They walked along the archaeological remains in the Parco dei Mulini (the Natural Park of Mills), where the energy of the thermal water was used till the end of the 19th century.
In the area of the natural park I Bollori e Putizza next to Gambassi Terme the walkers observed a phenomenon of hypothermal spring, unique geological formations known as “the little geyser of Tuscany”.
The two days also proved to be an important opportunity to involve private thermal facilities in the area. After having collaborated with the hotel Albergo Le Terme in Bagno Vignoni in recent months, the rurAllure project was presented to Chiara Pieri, director of the hotel Albergo Posta Marcucci in Bagno Vignoni, and to Ernesto Pernat, director of the Terme della Via Francigena spa in Gambassi Terme.
All these spots can be found on the web portal and rurAllure app, available to all pilgrims and walkers, who will thus be able to discover even the most unexpected heritage of these beautiful hilly areas, as well as receive a great logistical help that signals the presence of all the necessary services on the way.
