Waterfalls and natural pools in Tuscany

When the sultriness sets in, there is no need to escape to the sea or the lake. In Tuscany, there are several waterfalls and natural pools where you can relax, find some refreshment and enjoy a wonderful outing. Let’s discover together the ones not to be missed!

The Candalla Falls

A short distance from the centre of Camaiore, in a valley on the Versilia side of the southern Apuan Alps, are the paradisiacal Candalla waterfalls, which look like something out of a storybook. They are the ideal destination for those looking for a place to cool off and relax during hot summer days when the beaches are overcrowded. The path along the waterfalls is a section of the ring 7 Candalla – Casoli – Metato – Candalla. Along the way, there are numerous ruins of factories, mills, pasta and powder mills that have sprung up near the Lombricese stream to harness its energy. Among the most interesting buildings are the Bertagna pasta factory and the Taccone mill.

The pools of Malbacco

In the Apuan Alps Regional Park, not too far from the village of Seravezza, we find the pools of Malbacco, enchanting natural pools created by the erosive force of the Serra torrent, which offers its most beautiful spectacle here. Reaching them is not easy, but the satisfaction once you arrive at your destination will repay all the effort made. The most famous of these pools is called Pozza della Madonna and is fed by a waterfall of about ten metres carved into the rock that forms a natural slide. The more daring can climb up the wall of the waterfall and use the slide to plunge into the crystal blue pool.

The Fairy Ponds

A few minutes from Fivizzano, in the province of Massa Carrara, there is an enchanted place where legend has it fairies used to gather to wash their clothes and then lay them out in the sun to dry. We are talking about the Bozzi delle Fate, a series of splendid natural pools that follow one after the other and are connected by waterfalls and cascades. The site offers all kinds of recreation: you can swim, dive from the rocks and even take a whirlpool bath under the waterfalls. A short path winds its way up and down through the forest. Not far from here (about 3 kilometres) stands the majestic Verrucola Castle, which is definitely worth a visit.

The Maiden Rock

In the Berignone Forest Nature Reserve, between the municipalities of Pomarance and Volterra, lies Masso delle Fanciulle, a pleasant bathing area where nature is at its best. The Cecina river, during its course, generates this stretch of water, close to a large boulder, to which the name of the locality refers. It is said that the name is linked to a legend, according to which some young girls, in order to escape the attentions of a local nobleman, threw themselves into the water from the boulder and drowned. A little further on is the Masso degli Specchi, another unspoilt place, ideal for a nice refreshing swim.

The Acquacheta waterfall

In the National Park of the Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna, one of the most unspoilt forest areas in Europe, which straddles Tuscany and Emilia Romagna, stands the scenic Acquacheta Waterfall. This magnificent cascade of water is characterised by a drop of over 70 metres that offers a unique spectacle. The waterfall is a tourist destination not only for its high naturalistic interest but also for the cultural value of the place. It is in fact described by Dante Alighieri in the 16th canto of the Inferno. It can only be reached by a hike of a couple of hours, starting from the village of San Benedetto in Alpe. Don’t be fooled, however: although the start is in Emilia, the waterfall is on Tuscan territory.

The waterfalls of the Mill of Saturnia

The most famous are the waterfalls of Mulino di Saturnia, a hamlet of the municipality of Manciano which is located in the hilly hinterland of the Maremma. Contrary to the ones we have reported so far, we recommend visiting these in spring or autumn, to best enjoy the warm temperature of the thermal baths. Here the sulphurous water, fed by the Gorello stream, flows in small basins, becoming hotter and more impetuous as you go up towards the source, until it becomes a sort of hydromassage in the highest basin. According to legend, they originated at the point where a bolt of lightning struck by Jupiter against Saturn fell. Enveloped in thick clouds of sulphurous vapour, they are ideal for those who love to relax with water up to their necks. And they’re free too!