Casciana Terme

The municipality of Casciana Terme is located in the province of Pisa and has a population of around 3,000 inhabitants. Within its territory stand numerous buildings of architectural interest, including the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, but the town is chiefly renowned for its thermal spas.
By the 4th century, a settlement called “Castrum ad Aquis” was already established, suggesting that the exceptional properties of its thermal waters were known since the earliest medieval centuries, or even earlier. Until the 12th century, the territory was part of Count Ugone’s estates. It was then gifted to the Church of Morrona and the Camaldolese friars, who subsequently donated it to the Archbishop of Pisa in 1135.

From the 14th century onwards, the settlement found itself caught up in the conflict between Pisans and Florentines, who attacked and burned it in 1362. In 1515, Casciana finally became part of the Florentine Republic, during the period when the Grand Duchy was expanding towards what are now the provinces of Siena and Pisa. During the Grand Ducal era, Casciana was merged with the Vicariate of Peccioli and subsequently with that of Lari in 1776. From this point forward, the town’s tourist industry began to flourish, attracting wealthy and noble families from across Italy thanks to the Spas and the booming hotel trade. Of particular significance was the construction of the Gran Hotel delle Terme, inaugurated in 1912. In 1927, Casciana Terme finally acquired the status of an independent municipality.

The development of the thermal spa industry owes much to Matilda of Tuscany, after whom one of the two springs is named. The countess became famous for hosting the historic meeting between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV, during which the emperor humbled himself by kneeling before the pontiff. Legend has it that the noblewoman kept a blackbird which, when gravely ill, recovered from its ailments by bathing in the warm waters of the thermal springs that bubbled up near the countess’s home. It was then that she discovered their therapeutic properties and had them restored.

In reality, the spas, probably already known to the Romans, were recognised before the 12th century. The first facilities were constructed by Federico da Montefeltro in 1311, and both the Medici and the House of Lorraine carried out restoration and improvement works. As late as 1870, architect Poggi, the celebrated designer of Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, worked on new modernisation projects for the complex. Today the spas consist of two springs. The one known as “Mathelda”, recognised by experts as one of the finest on the peninsula for its therapeutic qualities, springs forth at a temperature of 36°C. The other, called “San Leopoldo”, is instead used for hydrotherapeutic treatments.

Casciana’s Thermal Spas

Although many scholars claim that the thermal waters of Casciana were already known to the Romans, the first documented construction of a thermal spa facility was undertaken by Federico da Montefeltro, Lord of Pisa, in 1311.
In 1460, after nearly two centuries, it was restored for the first time by the “Magnificent Florentine Lords” who, on the orders of Leopoldo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who visited the Spas twice, carried out further improvements in 1596.
In 1824, on the orders of Ferdinando III of Lorraine, Grand Duke of Tuscany, substantial improvements were made. Among the most important works, a new façade for the Spas was built, the bathing rooms were enhanced, and heating stoves were introduced for drying linens.
Thus we reach 1870 with a new project entrusted to architect Poggi, renowned for creating Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence. From this point, the Spas entered their most successful period, with significant technical, functional and, above all, architectural changes being introduced.
Casciana became one of Italy’s most celebrated thermal spa resorts, earning the title “The Pearl of Italian Spas”. The refined neoclassical and delicate character of the Spas’ façade has retained its original features to this day.

Recommended hotels in Casciana Terme