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Tuscany is famous for its wines, hills, valleys and cypress trees, all aligning themselves into exquisite views. In many Tuscany photogenic hilltop towns, walking on it’s cobblestones and narrow streets made you feels like you are wandering back in ancient times.

We have spent a total of 4 days in Tuscany. Even though we thoroughly enjoyed driving around Tuscan hills and valleys and strolling in ancient towns, by the end of the third day we felt like doing something different. That was when we decided to search for hidden attractions that are off the beaten track for tourist.

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Probably Tuscany’s best hidden natural wonders is Cascate del Mulino also known as “Waterfalls of the Mill”. Located in Saturnia, this amazing cascade of natural geothermal pools nestled beautifully in the Tuscan countryside. The rumbling waterfall, the blueish pools, whitish falls, and the green and brown nature is simply surreal.

This hot spring is really isolated. It is in the middle of countryside fields, away from most tourist hotspots. This, in my opinion, makes the place even more unique. When I was driving to this hotspring, I really felt unsure whether I’m on the right direction. Then, all the sudden, the descending steps of geothermal pools seems to appear out of nowhere from the green hills of the Tuscan valley.

Cascate del Mulino is only 30 mins from the town of Pitigliano and 2 hours from Rome. I think the only way to come here is by driving as I do not see any bus stop in the surrounding area.

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This place is really amazing and a heaven for photographer. Milky blue waters cascading down from the mill creating small geothermal pools. The best of all, it’s completely free of charge. No parking and entry fee. Facilities are limited but there is access to shower for a fee. A coffee/snack bar is also nearby.

There is a lot of confusion online about the Saturnia hot springs and Cascate del Mulino. Even though both are located in Saturnia, Terme di Saturnia generally refers Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort, which is located nearby and most importantly, it’s not free.

Highly recommend to visit in the morning before it gets too crowded (or perhaps late in the day). Also considered bringing water shoes as the bottom of the pools can be sharp.

The stairwise cascade is great to sit and relax. It’s 37°C constantly and comes from a source underground brimming with sulphur and other minerals. Due to sulphuric content, you will smell a bit like eggs after a while and you will definitely need to showers afterwards.

That is why we prefer to sit and watch from the side. You will see many people bring snacks and drinks, just like a picnic on the beach. We were there for only an hour as we have a very tight schedule ahead. But this hidden gem is worth visiting if you want to add variety to your Tuscany trip.

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SentierElsa is another hidden gem. It is a hiking trail that begins at Gracciano, Colle di Val d’Elsa, from the bridge at San Marziale. This trail run alongside beautiful turquoise river Elsa for a distance of 2km, crossing the river Elsa a number of times with stepping stones / wooden bridges. The turquoise colour of the River Elsa is the main draw to this trail and it is due to the presence of limestone in the water.

Gracciano is reachable in 1.5 hours drive from Pitigliano. The nearest city is Perugia which is 1 hour drive away.

The starting point of the hike is not easy to find. Once in Gracciano, look for San Marziale bridge as the starting point is located to the left of the bridge. Straight away you encounter the turquoise river and falls. Totally unexpected to find such big falls and pools here.

The comfortable hiking path will lead you through the woods along the river Elsa. It takes no more than 60 or 90 minutes (even longer, if you´re a photographer like me) with amazing views. When not crossing the river itself, the trail is well marked and easy to follow. It is mostly a dirt and gravel path with a few handrails at times where it is steep.

The colour of the river’s waters is just so unbelievable. Very photogenic, peaceful and quiet. Definitely worth seeing, especially nature lovers and phtographers.

After 200 metres of walking, you will find the Diborrato waterfall: a thunderous waterfalls 15 metres high and a 10 metres deep lake, which in the past was used by local people for bathing.

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The color of the pool and the ray of lights shining through the falls are stunning. It feels like you are in a secret natural hideout that is a part of heaven. We rented this part of the heaven for a while before venturing further along the trail.

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Further along the trail, we encountered a small cave called Grotta dell’Orso or Bear Cave, as the cave vaguely resemble the shape of a bear. We did not proceed further along the trail as the time is running short.

On our return journey, we attempted to climb this little piece of heaven to get a better view. We did not have much expectation for this trail but was surprised that there are hidden secrets out there for us to find. Even on our daily life, I believe it is the same. There are beautys or little piece of heaven hidden in every aspects of our lives, we just need to open our eyes occasionally to find them.