Chianciano's history goes back to the Etruscans, who were the authors of wonderful frescoes inside the necropolis near the town.

The healing properties of its waters were already well known during the Etruscan time, and the Romans built thermal baths for this purpose.
In the Middle Age Chianciano had changeable relationships with other important towns like Orvieto, Siena and Montepulciano, often fighting against this or that other, until – under the government of the Rimbotti-Manetti family – it decided to rule its territory independently from other centres.
In 1280 the Rimbotti-Manetti family was chased away from Chianciano and the town went back under control of Orvieto, until 1287, when it became a free city republic.
At that time Chianciano was an Episcopal seat, its castle was transformed into the town hall and the thermal baths were reused and became famous all over Italy: even the poet Dante Alighieri used to come here to heal his diseases.
After the conquest of Siena the Medici family and Florence came to control Chianciano as well; later on it was ruled by the Lorena family, which gave the architect Leonardo Massimilano De Vegni the task to build many public and private houses in the town.
During the 19th and 20th century the thermal baths became the major attraction of the town, new thermal buildings were built inside parks and gardens, and the old baths were restored.
Today Chianciano is still renowned for its baths and the healing properties of the water, a real "City of water".
Among the most important buildings (besides the baths, of course) we cannot forget to mention the Palazzo del Podestà (13th century), the archaeological museum of waters ( with a lot of Etruscan finds) and the church Collegiata di San Giovanni with its museum.