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Gambassi Terme: the history and the territory
Gambassi Terme is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing holiday, immersed in the green Tuscan country side and surrounded by various towns such as Certaldo, Volterra, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni.
Gambassi Terme in Valdelsa has been the centre of a prominent territory since ancient times, known for its saline thermal waters.
In etruscan times, Gambassi Terme was located along the road to Volterra. for the romans it became the junction between Siena and Lucca, up to the middle ages where it became a fundamental stop for travelers. Gambassi became a leg of archbishop Sigerico of Canterbury’s pilgrimage to Rome on the via Francigena, which today continues to be one of the most interesting and fascinating paths.
Gambassi Terme’s name comes from the ancient thermal baths, which are still accessible today and are located inside the Benestare Park, immersed into a green landscape with a beautiful pedestrian path.
Gambassi Terme, in the Valdelsa landscape, is a beautiful town rich in history with many religious monuments inspired by roman architecture and surrounded by green country side. there are many activities to enjoy like walking, cycling or bathing in the thermal baths.
The greenery and nature also enrich the picturesque town centre with a big public garden that becomes a rest area for tourists and locals alike.
Via Francigena in Gambassi Terme
Via Francigena, better known as via Francesca or via Romea, is an ancient pilgrimage that connected north-western Europe all the way to Rome. The name Francigena indicates the origin of the journey from the land of the frank’s, consisting of a set of routes and paths that created the road system towards Rome.
The most famous path of via Francigena is the one made by archbishop Sigerico of Canterbury in 990 a.d. when he went to Rome to take over the position of the pope, traveling 1800 kilometers across four different countries. The 79 stops of the original route,taken by the archbishop who completed it in 80 days, corresponds to todays path which is accessible by foot, horseback, or bike, and is taken by religious pilgrims and those who love the countryside. The roughly 945 km path of via Francigena passes through various regions, including all of Tuscany, and parts of Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, and Lazio.
Gambassi Terme - San Gimignano - San Miniato
In the Valdelsa area of Tuscany, the route of the via Francigena connects Gambassi Terme to the nearby San Gimignano over a distance of 13.5 km (344 meter altitude difference for an easy difficulty) and to san miniato over a distance of 24km (400 meters altitude difference for an elevated difficulty).
The via Francigena was a way of facilitating communication and the trade of spices from the east. today, the via Francigena has become both a path of pilgrimage for religious pilgrims and a way to reconnect with nature for those who enjoy hiking and the outdoors.
In fact, since 1994, the via Francigena has been declared a cultural itinerary by the council of Europe, becoming a route increasingly experienced by children and adults to rediscover beautiful places and characteristic countrysides as unique as Gambassi Terme.
In Tuscany the path of via Francigena holds 11 legs
from the Cisa Pass to Pontremoli. 28 km, altitude difference of 409 meters, high difficulty.
from Pontremoli to Aulla. 32.9 km, altitude difference 386 meters, high difficulty
from Aulla to Avenza. 32.4 km, altitude difference of 718 meters, high difficulty
from Avenza to Pietrasanta. 28 km, altitude difference of 409 meters, high difficulty
from Pietrasanta to Lucca. 32 km, altitude difference of 410 meters, high difficulty
from Lucca to Altopascio. 18 km, altitude difference of 30 meters, easy difficulty
from Altopascio to San Miniato. 25.3 km, altitude difference of 283 meters, easy difficulty
from San Miniato to Gambassi Terme. 24 km, altitude difference of 400 meters, high difficulty
from Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano. 13.5 km, difference in altitude of 344 meters, with easy difficulty
from San Gimignano to Monteriggioni. 30 km difference in altitude 513 meters, challenging difficulty
from Monteriggioni to Siena. 20 km altitude difference 330 meters, medium difficulty
