In the heart of Tuscany, where rolling hills meet volcanic soil and thermal springs have flowed for millennia, lies Chianciano Terme, a town built on water. Here, Sorgente Sant'Elena has stewarded two exceptional Natural Mineral Water sources for nearly a century: Sant'Elena, documented since 1756, and bottled since 1926 and Marzia, discovered in 1998.

This is the story of how ancient geology, family stewardship, and unwavering commitment to quality transformed one of Tuscany's best-kept secrets into Natural Mineral Waters cherished around the world.

The Etruscans and Romans (Before 1756)

The story of Sorgente Sant'Elena begins long before the company was founded and long before commercial bottled water existed at all.

The Etruscans

Millennia ago, the Etruscan civilisation recognised the curative properties of Chianciano Terme's springs. They built a temple dedicated to their God of Health near what would eventually become the Sant'Elena site. Water wasn't just for drinking, it was sacred, medicinal, central to wellness rituals that defined their culture.

Archaeological evidence confirms that Chianciano Terme (known to the Etruscans by a different name) was a thermal spa destination even in ancient times. The springs weren't merely discovered, they were revered.

The Romans

By the Roman era, Chianciano's waters had gained widespread recognition across the empire. Roman writings reference the town's therapeutic springs, and the reputation grew so renowned that documentation suggests even Horace, the legendary Roman lyrical poet, visited Chianciano's thermal baths on the advice of physicians serving Caesar Augustus.

This was a medical pilgrimage with the Romans travelling to take the waters (prendere le acque) for health restoration and healing.

The tradition of water as wellness, water as community, water as ritual, centuries before bottled water would become a global industry.

1756 – Sant'Elena Documented

In 1756, the Sant'Elena spring was officially documented for the first time. This wasn't the discovery of the water, locals had known about the spring for generations but its formal recognition as a distinct, protected source.

The spring was named in honour of the nearby Chapel of Sant'Elena, creating a connection between the sacred and the natural that has endured for nearly three centuries.

The Legend of Elena

The naming carries a legend: Elena, mother of Emperor Constantine, is said to have discovered the therapeutic properties of water while returning from one of her voyages. The story connects the Sant'Elena spring to a lineage of healing waters stretching back to the Byzantine Empire.

Whether historical fact or romanticised legend, the association reinforced what was already known: this water was special.

The Natural Cave Source

Sant'Elena emerges from a natural cave beneath Chianciano Terme's thermal park. Protected from surface pollution, filtered through layers of volcanic rock and limestone, the spring delivers water with a remarkably stable mineral composition:

pH 7.4: Perfectly neutral, matching human blood pH

451 mg/l TDS: Low classification

Natural balance: 140mg/l calcium, moderate magnesium (18mg/l), gentle bicarbonates (345mg/l)

For centuries, Sant'Elena was known locally for supporting kidney health and natural diuresis, the body's way of flushing and renewing itself.

1925 – Sorgente Sant'Elena Founded

In 1925, Sorgente Sant'Elena was officially founded as both a spa destination and a commercial bottled water source. This marked a transition from a local therapeutic spring to a recognised producer of premium Natural Mineral Water.

The Brussels Gold Medal

The same year the company was founded, Sant'Elena won a Gold Medal at the II International Fair in Brussels.

The award positioned Sant'Elena among Europe's elite Natural Mineral Waters at a time when spa culture and "taking the cure" were at their peak. Chianciano Terme became a destination for those seeking health rejuvenation and social connection.

The Golden Age of Spa Culture

Throughout the early-to-mid 20th century, Sant'Elena thrived as a luxury spa and bottling site. People from across Europe and beyond would travel to Chianciano Terme to:

Experience the thermal baths
Drink the mineral water at its source
Participate in structured wellness programmes
Socialise with other health-conscious travellers

The historic Sant'Elena park surrounded by oak, cypress, and olive trees, overlooking panoramic views of Montepulciano and Tuscany's sun-kissed hills became a sanctuary of wellness and refinement.

For decades, Sant'Elena was the best kept secret of Tuscany, known to those who could travel there, but not widely distributed beyond Italy.

1998 – The Discovery of Marzia

In 1998, within the Sant'Elena thermal water park, a second spring was discovered: Marzia.

This wasn't just another water source, it was a different mineral profile emerging from the same geological region. Where Sant'Elena is light and balanced (low mineral), Marzia is bold and mineral-dense (mineral rich).

Marzia's Character

Marzia presented a unique combination found in Natural Mineral Water: high mineral content (1,372 mg/l TDS) with a delicate, refreshing taste.

The key minerals:

315 mg/l Calcium: Bone health, structural support

100 mg/l Magnesium: Recovery, energy, stress reduction

571 mg/l Bicarbonates: Acid neutralisation

13 mg/l Sodium: Remarkably low despite high TDS

Natural Mineral Water Certification

Both Sant'Elena and Marzia hold official Natural Mineral Water status, one of the most highly regulated designations for bottled water in the UK and EU.

This certification requires:

Protected underground source
Bottled at source with no treatment
Stable mineral composition (tested rigorously)
Up to two years of testing before official recognition

At Sorgente Sant'Elena, we take this responsibility seriously. 12-24 samples are taken each year from both springs to ensure declared quality and mineral composition remain consistent.

Sharing Tuscany's Secret with the World

In recent years, Sorgente Sant'Elena has begun expanding beyond Italy, bringing both Natural Mineral Waters to international markets including the United Kingdom.

Over the past three years we’ve been honoured with multiple awards at the Fine Water Taste & Design Awards, international recognition that what Italy has cherished for generations deserves global appreciation.

From our family to yours. From Chianciano Terme to your table.

Welcome to Sorgente Sant'Elena.

The History of Sorgente Sant'Elena: Three Centuries of Natural Mineral Water Heritage