San Giuliano Terme
San Giuliano Terme is a municipality in the province of Pisa, Tuscany, set at the foot of the Monti Pisani hills along the Serchio...
Updated 19 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in San Giuliano Terme now
The story
The story of San Giuliano Terme
Introduction and location
San Giuliano Terme lies in the province of Pisa, just a few kilometres from the city, nestled against the southern slopes of the Monti Pisani hills. Its territory stretches between the plain crossed by the Serchio river and the first wooded heights, taking in numerous hamlets scattered across hill and lowland. Halfway between the Tyrrhenian coast and the Lucca hinterland, this position made the town a natural stopping point since Roman times, favoured by natural thermal springs that gave it its name and shaped its tourist vocation in the centuries that followed.
History and origins
The warm waters flowing at the foot of the Monti Pisani have been known since antiquity and were already exploited in Roman times for their reputed benefits. Over the centuries, especially between the 18th and 19th centuries, the local thermal establishments became a stopover for travellers and intellectuals crossing Europe on their way to Pisa and Tuscany, helping to build the area's reputation as a health resort. The hillside hamlets, such as Ripafratta, still bear traces of a defensive past linked to the historic border between the territories of Pisa and Lucca, evidenced by towers and fortified structures still visible today.
Nature and landscape
The landscape of San Giuliano Terme alternates between the cultivated river plain of the Serchio, dotted with farmhouses, and the wooded slopes of the Monti Pisani, rich in hiking trails and panoramic points overlooking the Pisan plain and, on clear days, the sea beyond. The hills are largely covered with terraced olive groves that have shaped the local agricultural economy for centuries, interspersed with holm oak and chestnut woods. This variety of environments makes the area suitable both for relaxed walks between the hamlets and for more demanding hikes toward the higher ridges of the massif.
What to do and see
The municipality lends itself to slow tourism, with walks through the hillside hamlets, visits to the historic thermal facilities and trails through the greenery of the Monti Pisani. Those seeking relaxation can enjoy a wellness stay tied to the spa tradition that made the area famous, while nature lovers will find marked paths connecting the hamlets to the higher parts of the massif. The scattered hamlets across the territory, each with its own church and historic core, offer a lesser-known but equally authentic side of the province of Pisa compared to the city centre.
Flavours and traditions
The rural economy of the San Giuliano Terme hills has long revolved around olive growing: the terraced groves of the Monti Pisani produce an extra virgin olive oil valued throughout the province, often linked to small family-run farms. Alongside the oil, local cuisine draws on Tuscan peasant tradition, with simple dishes based on pulses, seasonal vegetables and grilled meats, often paired with local wine. Village festivals held in the various hamlets throughout the year remain an occasion to sample these products directly where they are made.
Not to be missed
- The historic thermal baths and spa establishments in the main town
- The Rocca di Ripafratta, a fortress on the former border between Pisa and Lucca
- The hiking trails of the Monti Pisani hills
- The terraced olive groves and small farms of the hills
- The hamlets in the hills with their historic churches
To see
What to see in San Giuliano Terme
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Routes in San Giuliano Terme
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