San Giuliano Terme

Italy, Italy

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San Giuliano Terme is a historic town and municipality in the Province of Pisa in Tuscany, Italy, located about 5 kilometers northeast of Pisa and 80 kilometers west of Florence at the foot of Mount Pisano.

It has been famous since Roman times for its therapeutic mineral thermal springs, known then as Aquae Calidae Pisanorum, and its spa, Bagni di Pisa, continues to operate today with therapeutic properties that attracted enlightened travelers as early as the 18th century. The town was destroyed during battles between Pisa and Florence in 1404–1406 but was later rebuilt and flourished under Medici and Lorraine rule, with magnificent thermal bath edifices constructed in 1737. 

Starting in the 15th century, prestigious Pisan and Florentine families built stunning vacation villas here to enjoy the mild climate and natural beauty, and notable visitors included poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron, philosopher Michel de Montaigne, and royalty like Gustav III of Sweden and Paolina Borghese.

Today, with approximately 30,000 residents, San Giuliano Terme remains a popular spa destination surrounded by Tuscan greenery, medieval villas, and fortresses, featuring attractions like the Medici aqueduct, Dante Pass, Piccolo Mondo theme park, and the nature reserve Parco Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli, while its agricultural tradition continues with lively fair-markets held every April 28 and August 24.