Want to see something unexpected in Tuscany?
Head for the small village of Sasso Pisano, in Tuscany's "Metalliferous Hills", set about an hour and a half south of Pisa. You'll find an amazing landscape of smoking fumaroles, bubbling lakes of sulphurous water and ancient thermal baths.
These unusual phenomena are driven by a superheated extrusion of magma that was pushed upwards towards the earth's surface around 4 or 5 million years ago. An enormous reservoir of water drives steam through the rocks above, pushing out in steaming plumes and thermal springs. The nearby town of Larderello has power-stations producing green energy from this naturally occurring power source, but the area between Sasso Pisano and Monterotondo Marittimo has been left as it has been for centuries, an other-worldly landscape of earth coloured by the minerals forced to the surface by the continuous venting of steam.
Things to do:
- Walk between the villages of Sasso Pisano and Monterotondo
- Visit the "MUBIA" museum
- Explore the fumaroles and putizze
- Relax at the Biolago thermal baths
- Visit the antiqurium museum
A magical landscape of steam and colours
You can walk between the two villages, or take a circular path, and explore the landscape, watch the bubbling terrain and walk through the steam clouds issuing straight from the ground. Look out for the "Putizze", bubbling hot mud springs. Be careful not to go too close, these can be quite surprisingly hot!
Steam path between Sasso Pisano and Monterotondo Marittimo
The walk between the two villages is just under 4 km long and will take around two hours to walk - there's plenty of dawdling involved, and exploring. When you reach Monterotondo you can visit the new museum "MUBIA - Geomuseo delle Biancane", with plenty of information on the local landscape and geology.
The walk is tricky in places - wear good shoes or walking boots!
Thermal baths in Sasso Pisano
If you'd like to experience the warmth of the waters, you can visit the "biolago", a thermal bathing complex by the village, with a calidarium, a tepidarium and a outdoor lake. There's also a little cafe and even a tennis court. Find opening times and ticket prices here: Biolago di Sasso Pisano
The Biolago is only open during the summer, normally from mid June to early October, so please check on their website. It's a pity as I love going for a walk through the steam vents in winter, the contrast between colder weather and the heat coming from the ground is a delight.
Prices in 2025
| Visitor | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 60 mins | €4.50 |
| Adults | 3 hours | €10.00 |
| Adults | 6 hours | €15.00 |
| Adults | All day | €18.00 |
| Children 4 to 12 | 60 mins | €2.00 |
| Children under 4 | 60 mins | Free |
There are older thermal baths here too, the area has been object of visits and curiosity for millennia. You'll see signage for a Roman thermal bath, still open for visits and bathing.
Roman Etruscan Antiquarium
The village also boasts a museum detailing the finds discovered in the area, with a terracotta bathtub, roman coins, and a lead and tin Minerva. You'll find more details on the museum's website here: Museo Etrusco Romano a Sasso Pisano.
How to reach Sasso Pisano
Sasso Pisano is best reached by car. This is the Google Maps Link for the Car Park to start the walk, while the village itself is here: Sasso Pisano Map.
It will take around an hour and a half to drive here from Pisa and from Siena.
Where to eat and drink near Sasso Pisano
- Try the local brewery, powered by geothermal energy: Vapori di Birra
- There's a restaurant in town, Pizzeria il Tinaio - no website but here's the Google Maps Pin: Il Tinaio
Author: Dan Wrightson
Dan Wrightson grew up in Tuscany, Italy and has been writing about, sketching and exploring Tuscany and Italy since 1983.
3rd Sep 2025 3rd Sep 2025