The Municipality of San Giuliano Terme is settled between Pisa and Lucca, between the valleys of the rivers Arno and Serchio, between the artistic and environmental beauties of the Pisan hills and the amazing Estate, once owned by the Presidents of the Italian Republic, located in the park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli.
The Etruscans were the first to utilize the chalky stones quarry and the Romans built the ancient aqueduct which took the thermal water to Pisa. There are many medieval buildings worth seeing such as the Romanic parish churches in Pugnano and Rigoli, and the Ripafratta fortress with its sighting towers that can be reached through the typical striking paths of the Pisan hills. Walking along these tracks you will also encounter the Rupecava monastery and the Romanic compound of S. Maria del Mirteto
The Medicean aqueduct which took water from the Valle delle Fonti of Asciano to Pisa was made in 1592. From the 15th Century onward beautiful villas were built by eminent Pisan and Florentine families. Thanks to the mild weather and the stunning nature these country houses were used as holiday residences.
Because of the arrival of the Lorena in 1737 was found the marvellous thermal spa where were hosted men of letters such as Vittorio Alfieri, Montaigne, Byron, Percy Shelley and men of power, among which Giorgio IV e Gustavo III of Sweden. Restored their ancient splendour, today the spa offers a charming hospitality and suggests wellness treatments in prestigious and elegant settings.
In the last decades San Giuliano Terme has rediscovered a tourist vocation linked to the typical food such as the renowned pisan "mucco", the "torta coi bischeri" and bread with oil. The "Settembre Sangiulianese" and the "Agrifiera" are events which contribute to vitalize the area of this Municipality. The Fondazione Cerratelli with its 25000 theatrical dresses is more and more a research laboratory and a worldwide point of reference for the Italian art of making dresses for theatre and cinema, opera and ballet and even for television programmes. Due to all this the Fondazione Cerratelli has become highly important to the Italian culture as well as to the San Giuliano Terme territory.