Increase the students knowledge on local geological relevancies and make them active in the tourist promotion: the case of Terme San Giovanni - Rapolano Terme (SI)

Nearby Terme San Giovanni (Rapolano Terme, Siena, Tuscany), there are two relevant geological features. These are strictly related to the geothermal activity that characterizes the whole southern part of Tuscany, providing the circulation hydrothermal fluids across the mid-upper crustal levels. The "Montagnola" is a travertine fissure-ridge from which thermal water with high saline contents (mainly Ca-bicarbonate) flows out and the "mofette of Bossoleto", located about 100 meters from the fissure-ridge, is a doline of about 6 meters in depth and 80 meters in diameter, characterized by often limiting life conditions due to high CO2 concentrations. Due to this peculiarity, the mofette is considered a natural scientific laboratory to study short term effects of high CO2 on plants growth and adaptation traits in species that live there. The area of Terme San Giovanni is well known for the thermal tourism and for the scientific purposes due to these geological relevancies. These peculiarities are very much appreciated especially by the teachers and the students of the local school. Every year, guided by scientists, they implement scientific hands-on activities and study the peculiarities of the area. Thereafter, they guide groups of students coming from different parts of Italy to visit the sites. This kind of activities have several achievements: i. they raise the awareness of new generations and the local community (parents, authorities, local spa etc.) about the peculiarities of their territory; ii. motivate the students in science; iii. involve the students in multidisciplinary activities; iv. raise other skills like talking in public.