An energy landscape: springs and thermal waters
Before flowing into the Elsa River, the Casciani torrent is accompanied by the signs of humans, who have used its waters for centuries. You may bump into ruins of mills, dams, millponds, coal holes, mule tracks, a line of an abandoned industrial bottling, an old aqueduct.
The greatest concentration of thermal water is found near the so-called spring of the Bollori, where the water reaches 23° C. The water of this spring is murky because of the presence of clay. The local population used it in the past for bathing and for treating dermatological ailments of domestic animals. The gaseous emissions that surround it, contain hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide and minor gases. Gaseous emissions and warm water still come out of an old exploratory well nearby.
The Bollori spring is located in an area with a high concentration of thermal waters. Those that give their name to Gambassi are found in nature throughout the entire territory of the Benestare Park, a naturalist area between Gambassi and Montaione.
Beyond the valley floor of the Casciani torrent and the mineral spring of Luiano – whose water some tried to sell for its well-known medicinal properties – the salsa di Pillo water, the same water used by the Gambassi thermal baths, flows in the valley floor of the Rio Sanguigno.
To get more infos about the Parco Benestare initiatives, ask the Tourist Info Point in Gambassi. If you’re willing to visit the Bollori spring, join us and our friends of Greenbassi Association for a daily excursion.
