Saturnia is a tiny village in the hills of southern Tuscany, famous for its thermal springs. The main attraction is the Cascate del Mulino — a series of natural limestone pools where warm, sulphurous water cascades down terraced rock formations. The pools are free, open around the clock, and dramatic to look at, especially at night or in the early morning mist. The water sits at a constant 37°C year-round.
There is also a formal spa (Terme di Saturnia) with a hotel and wellness centre, but the free waterfall pools are the reason most people come. The village above is a handful of stone houses and a couple of restaurants — pleasant but small. The Etruscan necropolis cut into the tufa just outside the walls is worth an hour.
Saturnia is deep in the Maremma, the wild southern stretch of Tuscany that feels very different from the polished landscapes around Florence and Siena. You need a car to get here. The nearest towns of any size are Manciano and Pitigliano, the latter dramatically perched on a tufa cliff and worth combining with a visit. The picture-perfect village of Montemerano is a ten-minute drive south.