💧 Living the Water in Viterbo: Free Thermal Baths and Everyday Fountains

Giano di Vico
Jun 23
2 min read

In Viterbo, water is not just a resource —it’s an ancient friend,a silent companion that flows through every gesture,from a sip at the fountain to a warm morning bath in the mist.

Those who know how to walk slowly through alleyways and fields,those who can wait for a sunrise or a sunset,know that here, water tells the story of the city better than a thousand words.

♨️ The Last Free Thermal Baths: Between Nature and History

Not all thermal springs remain accessible.Many, like Il Bagnaccio or Le Masse di San Sisto, have had to close.But the hot waters of Tuscia still sing, still invite, still embrace.

✨ Piscine Carletti

📍 About 2.5 km from the historic center, along the road to Tuscania

A small, free miracle:

Natural pools fed by a 58°C thermal spring
Clear water, morning vapors rising like incense
Pools cared for by the love of local volunteers

Experience:

Soaking at dawn, when the world is still
Enjoying a warm bath under the stars
With only the sky above you and the earth’s breath around you

✨ Terme del Bullicame

📍 Just outside the city walls — even mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy

The larger pools are currently closed, but the area is still alive:

The park is open
The main spring still bubbles, warm and fragrant
Small canals and minor pools still offer a touch of natural warmth

👉🏻 Walking along the Bullicame trail is like walking through an ancient breath,among vapors, the scent of sulfur, and vast, echoing silences.

⛲ Viterbo’s Fountains: Drinking from the City, Living Its History

In a world that bottles even air,Viterbo still offers the pure water of its fountains.

Ancient springs carved in peperino stone,still gifting fresh water to passersby, asking nothing in return.

✨ Fountains to Discover:

Fontana Grande (Piazza del Gesù) ➔ where pilgrims, soldiers, and merchants quenched their thirst for centuries
Fountain of Piazza delle Erbe ➔ the city’s beating heart, where every sip is a small daily ritual
Fountain of Piazza San Carluccio ➔ hidden, discreet, loved by those who know the secret shortcuts of the city

👉🏻 Drinking from these fountains means tapping into the same waterthat sustained generations of pilgrims along the Via Francigena.

✨ Water as a Daily Ritual

In Viterbo, water is not just a physical necessity —it’s a sacred and familiar act:

Splashing a handful on your forehead under the sun
Filling your bottle on a slow walk
Pausing in silence in front of an ancient fountain,listening to the water flow like a forgotten prayer

👉🏻 Here, water is not wasted.It is lived, respected, and celebrated.