If the heat of the Tuscan summer almost prevents you from enjoying the many beauties of the area and you want to treat yourself to a relaxing break after visiting the museums and small villages of Empolese Valdelsa, here is a really ‘refreshing’ article to help you! Discover the swimming pools and the cooler paths where you can recharge your batteries from the torrid heat!
Summer by the pool!
They certainly won’t have the taste of the sea or the mysterious charm of the lakes, but with the heat of July and August (maybe even September!), the blue of the pools under the scorching sun is a real mirage … Here is a selection of the best pools in our area!
Piscina Empoli
Via delle Olimpiadi, 92 – Empoli
A stone’s throw from Serravalle Park, the city’s green lung, the municipal swimming pool is an excellent solution for those with children in tow. There are two pools, one Olympic size, with an entire lane dedicated to children. Open every day, it offers the possibility to rent sunbeds and umbrellas or to lie down on a large lawn, partly in the shade.
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Piscina Certaldo
Viale Matteotti, 201 – Certaldo
Not far from the Canonica Park and the historical center of Boccaccio, the swimming pool is equipped with an Olympic-size pool perfect for free swimming and a play pool with whirlpool path all surrounded by a large lawn equipped with gazebos, parasols, and sunbeds.
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Piscina Montespertoli
Via Volterrana Nord, loc. Molino del Ponte – Montespertoli.
In the heart of the Chianti hills, in an area surrounded by greenery in the municipality of Montespertoli, in the swimming pool “Il Molino” di Baccaiano. The two pools, one for adults and the other reserved for children, are surrounded by trees and a lawn equipped with sunbeds and gazebos. Given its hilly position, it is the perfect place to take refuge to escape the city’s sultriness!
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Piscina Pietramarina
Via provinciale di Pietramarina, 7-13 – Carmignano, località San Giusto
On the hills of Montalbano, in a panoramic position between Vinci and Capraia and Limite, the swimming pool of Pietramarina is the perfect choice for those who cannot give up a breathtaking view!
The pool for adults, the pool for children, and the fun water slide are located on a terrace overlooking the valley, not far from the path that leads to the Sasso del Diavolo near Pietramarina.
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Strolls ‘on the water
Surely less relaxing than the swimming pool option, for those who have the vocation of the explorer and the desire to challenge the heat, here are some paths that wind along the banks of small streams where, in the shade of ancient trees, find some coolness even in summer!
Trail of the Mills
A few hundred meters from Leonardo’s birthplace, a path no. 16, known as the ‘path of the mills’, winds along the course of the Vinicio, a small stream whose waters were once exploited by ancient mills still partly visible. For the entire first stretch, the road never leaves the stream and slowly enters the heart of the Montalbano woods. Trails of the Mills is part of the Genius’ Itineraries.
The paths of the high valley of the Carfalo torrent
Not far from Montaione, in the heart of Valdelsa, 5 equipped paths allow you to explore a natural area of rare beauty, and untouched forest where you can discover centuries-old trees and a rare local amphibian, the Spectacled Salamander. Follow the course of the Carfalo stream to its source and enjoy a relaxing day in the open air in an unspoiled landscape.
Info and maps
The miraculous waters of Gambassi Terme
Thermal waters, beneficial and healing, although not too refreshing, certainly a panacea for those who love to take a wellness break. We are talking about the thermal waters that emerge around the town of Gambassi Terme, known for centuries, and now exploited within the establishment of the Via Francigena Spa. Here you can follow a real path of wellness, among saunas, swimming pools, and cooling showers and you can book numerous treatments for the relaxation of body and spirit. For those who love to stay in the open air and live an experience in contact with nature, the Parco Benestare, with its thermal water pools, outcrops and springs are certainly the right compromises!