Terme di San Saturnino (Benetutti)

About Terme di San Saturnino (Benetutti)

Benetutti is a village in the Goceano, in the heart of Sardinia, known for thermal waters used since Roman times. On the plain of the Tirso river, a few dozen metres from the Romanesque church of San Saturnino, there are small historic pools where the thermal water rises and where you can bathe freely, without paying.

According to the sources, the water in the free pools is milder than at other Sardinian hot springs, between 34 and 38 °C: a pleasant temperature that makes it suitable for people who don't like very hot water and, with due care, for families. The pools are next to the Aurora spa, which is a paid facility with services and treatments.

The free pools are basic: no changing rooms or comforts, but an authentic, peaceful atmosphere far from mass tourism. They're the right choice for anyone happy with simple facilities who wants a genuine thermal experience in inland Sardinia, an area still little visited by tourists.

A recent technical document reports that part of the archaeological site linked to the ancient baths is overgrown and hard to reach, and that projects to develop the area are under way. Conditions may therefore change: if in doubt, ask at Benetutti town hall or at the Aurora spa.

The Goceano offers mountain and woodland scenery, with the medieval castle of Burgos and the Anela forest, while the nuraghe sites of the interior are not far away. A soak at San Saturnino is the ideal way to end a day in a Sardinia very different from the beaches.

A note for visitors: the church of San Saturnino, next to the pools, is a small Romanesque gem and a place of worship still dear to the local community. Visit it respectfully, perhaps after your soak, and remember that inland Sardinia offers hospitality and genuine food to those who travel through it without hurrying.