Most probably the therapeutic virtues of these thermal waters have been clear since prehistoric times.
As a matter of facts, archaeological excavations carried out in the early years of 1900 uncovered votive offerings in the caves of Calda, in the immediate vicinity of the springs. Scholars considered these offerings as holy deposits linked to the “cult of healthy waters”. However, more convincing evidences came to light in 1732 (Dott. Michele La Cava - “I bagni di Latronico” - The Baths in Latronico - published in 1891): “Still on this land, in a place called Calda, you can find those various mineral waters peasants believe to be good to heal different illnesses” Almost 100 years later, in 1824, the “Calendario per l’anno Bisestile 1824” (the Calendar for the Leap Year 1824) wrote: “Several fountains of mineral water splash from a place named Calda; they contain principles of carbonic gas, hydrogen sulphide gas, magnesium carbonate gas, carbonate calcic gas and silica earth”. The first thorough analyses were done in 1842 by the chemist Grocco.
Besides, in 1899 Prof. Bartolomeo Gosio, from the Health Department, carried out the first chemical-physical and chemical exams.