The Waterways Itinerary is a captivating cycling route that winds through the historic Petriolo Springs, a site of significant natural and cultural importance. This itinerary offers cyclists the chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of the landscape, riding along a scenic road that passes by the historic springs, renowned since ancient times for their natural waters.

Along the route, you can admire the ancient springs, which have always been a symbol of well-being and local culture.

The springs are:

Sulphur Water Spring

The spring waters, already in use in the 1500s, are channelled to the fountain. Local farmers say that the community used the sulphur water to wash themselves and treat skin problems. In the past, it also functioned as an actual spa, known to many for the miraculous powers of its water. In the 1800s, priest, Gaspare Latini tested the waters and published their therapeutic effects, making them known to the medical profession. When the municipality of Petriolo participated in the Florence and London Exhibitions in 1881 and 1882, it presented a sample of its sulphur waters. The fountain and surrounding areas were renovated during 2024 using funds from the 2014/2020 Rural Development Programme - M19.2.A.7.6.A to recover publicly owned assets for the tourist industry - GAL Sibilla - La Bellezza in Bicicletta.

Town wash house - Fonte Incarcerata

The wash house was built around the end of the 19th century to serve the Petriolo community, as it was easily accessible from the village centre. During the construction period, the old cemetery, which was located in the immediate vicinity of today's War Memorial, was being taken down. The salvaged bricks were used to make the structural masonry parts of the wash house itself. The origin of the bricks is linked to a popular legend: it is said that the women of the village, believed the wash house to be haunted and were afraid to go there in the evening hours. It was used until about 1990, then left in a state of abandonment before being fully restored in 2024 with funds from the Rural Development Programme 2014/2020 - M19.2.A.7.6.A to recover publicly owned assets for the tourist industry - GAL Sibilla - La Bellezza in Bicicletta.

Fonte Bona


It is not known when Fonte Bona was built, but presumably it was the first public spring to be used by the resident community. The women of the village filled jars and brought water from the countryside to their homes. This spring was fundamental to the economy of the population, so much so that it merited special attention from the Community Council, which, in 1657, sanctioned certain rules for the use of the water, prohibiting direct use for watering livestock and for the initial washing of clothes and herbs. The name of the spring comes from the water that unfortunately, began to go cloudy around the 18th century, due to the landslides of the surrounding rocks. It was the community of Petriolo that intervened to have the spring restored. The surrounding district is named after the precious spring. Over the centuries, the spring has undergone several redevelopments and in one of these, the water was piped directly into a cistern below the pavement in front of the spring, still an important supply point for local farmers. The fountain and the surrounding areas underwent works during 2024 with funds from the 2014/2020 Rural Development Programme - M19.2.A.7.6.A Interventions to recover publicly owned assets for the tourist industry - GAL Sibilla - La Bellezza in Bicicletta.