A 50 km (about 1 hour) drive from the tuff-rich city of Orvieto to discover the villages of the lower Tuscan Maremma, known as the ancient “tufa cities”: Pitigliano, Sorano, and Sovana. A scenic journey through the countryside on the border between Umbria, Lazio, and Tuscany, passing through small villages until reaching the first stop: Pitigliano.
Pitigliano, a charming Tuscan village, just like Orvieto, perched on a towering tuff rock. Worth seeing are the Jewish ghetto (whose presence has earned the town the nickname “little Jerusalem“) and the stunning Vie Cave, Etruscan paths that wind around the town and are a must-see for lovers of trekking, nature, and history.
From Pitigliano, you quickly reach Sorano, another Tuscan village built on tuff rocks and characterized by the imposing Orsini Fortress, also known, due to its shape, as the “little Matera of Tuscany.” From Sorano, it’s just a few kilometers to the picturesque village of Sovana, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Sovana boasts a unique urban structure that has remained faithful to its past, lending a magical atmosphere to visitors. Don’t miss a visit to the Sovana Cathedral, the Etruscan necropolis (with its extraordinary rock-hewn funerary architecture, such as the Pola and Ildebranda tombs), and the nearby “lost city” of Vitozza: one of the largest rock-hewn settlements in Italy.
