Pitigliano, known as the tuff city, is a must-see for anyone wanting to discover Tuscany. It’s a charming village, both for its location and the atmosphere that permeates its narrow streets.
The dream village
It’s located on the border between Tuscany and Lazio, not far from the Saturnia thermal baths: it’s hard not to be amazed when you glimpse the town while driving along the hairpin bends of the road leading to it or from the Madonna delle Grazie viewpoint. Pitigliano’s unique feature is that it’s completely perched on tuff: this typical sedimentary and porous rock dominates and characterizes the walls, streets, and buildings.
A perfect harmony of architectural and natural elements, therefore, gives the skyline a fairytale feel. All this is surrounded by Maremma woodland vegetation (with many trails to explore) and flanked by the Meleta, Prochio, and Lente streams.
The history of Pitigliano
The area where the town stands today was already inhabited in Etruscan times, as evidenced by the ruins in the Capisotto neighborhood. It was they who shaped the Vie Cave (Cave Roads) that surround the area, a fascinating network of roads through the rocks between Sovana, Sorano, and Pitigliano.
According to legend, the name Pitigliano is a portmanteau of Petilio and Ciliano, two Roman exiles who stole Jupiter’s crown from the Capitoline Hill and took refuge in the area, later founding a settlement. The first historical records, however, are linked to Pope Nicholas II, who in 1061 designated Pitigliano as under the control of the Aldobrandeschi counts. The town’s history was then linked to the Orsini family when Margherita Aldobrandeschi married Romano Orsini. This family would defend Pitigliano for centuries to come from the influence of siena, Orvieto, and Florence, until its annexation to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1604.
Even today the city is known as Little Jerusalem, as it was home to many groups of persecuted Jews who settled here since the 16th century.
Pitigliano: must see
- Palace Orsini: The fortress-palace houses the museum of sacred art (with paintings, historical objects and explanations of Pitigliano’s past) and the archaeological museum of Etruscan civilization (with collections of finds from the archaeological sites in the area).
- The town center: A lovely stroll through the narrow streets, discovering restaurants, gift shops, and wineries. Themed evenings and traditional events are organized throughout the year, such as the “Torciata di San Giuseppe” on March 19th or the “Infiorata” in June.
- Fontana delle Sette Cannelle: a moment to admire the view through the arches and refresh yourself in Piazza della Repubblica. The fountain was built in 1545 by order of the Orsini family.
- The Juish quarter: You can visit the synagogue, the educational museum, and the ancient rooms dug into the tuff and frequented daily by Jews, such as the unleavened bread oven and the kosher slaughterhouse.
In short, the tuff city of Pitigliano is definitely worth a visit, especially if you love the Tuscan ancient villages.
More information on the website of the Municipality of Pitigliano.
