The very ancient town of Chianciano is two towns these days. Up on a small hill, Chianciano Vecchia (old Chianciano) sits where it has for 2500 years, since the Etruscans first came to build a temple to the god of health. You enter this old part via the Porta Rivellini, an imposing Renaissance gateway sitting at the end of the Via Dante. Other sights include the Mercy church, the Castle of the Counts of Manenti (also known as the Monastery) and the Clock Tower. Gaze over the town walls and you have superb vistas of Monte Cetona and Monte Amiata, and the lakes of Chiusi, Montepulciano and Trasimeno.
Down the hill, meanwhile, we have the modern Chianciano Terme, one of the biggest health resorts in Italy. Here people come from around the world to cleanse their livers, clear their skin, tackle respiratory problems, drink the waters, and take a bewildering range of health cures: hydro-physiokinetic therapy, subaqueous hydro-massage, hydro galvano therapy, ozonized baths, Kneipp baths, massotherapy, lymphodrainage, vascular drainage and much much more. The reason the Etruscans came here was the reason the world comes here still - the healing waters - though their cures were somewhat more basic. They constructed their shrine close to the Silene springs, and the Romans followed, building luxurious villas around the three springs - the Silene, the Holy and the Fucoli.
There is beautiful countryside to explore, with the magnficent wine-growing region of Chianti on your doorstep. There are the lakes of course, and superb historic towns such as Siena, Florence, Cortona and Perugia to discover.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, to get you in the mood
- see also our full listings of Chianciano Terme hotels.
