Pitigliano - when you see Pitigliano,
it's like turning the pages of a book of fairy tales set in
the Middle Ages.
The town is built on a promontory surrounded
by bright green valleys, grooved by the Lente and Meleta rivers.
The high tufa cliffs are chiselled
with a thousand caves and tower-houses. The houses are built
on a tufaceous drum in the same jutting vertical as the sheer
cliffs which make the city wall almost superfluous.
This, however, in no way detracts from
the splendid military structures such as the 13th Orsini palace.
The town takes pride in its heritage: the Prehistoric period,
with its tombs discovered along the city wall and in the surrounding
area; the Roman period that left behind the town's name, Gens
Petilia; the Medieval period of the Aldobrandeschi, lords
of the Maremma for almost five hundred years; the Renaissance
grandeur brought by the noble Roman family, the Orsini; and,
after a brief Sienese interlude, the Medici and their heirs,
the Lorraine who stimulated a phase of modernization.
Another key to the appreciation of
Pitigliano is the famous Jewish ghetto. This extraordinary
town has been called "Little Jerusalem" because
of its large and active Jewish population which settled there
beginning in the 15th century. Today the Sinagogue is once
again open to the public, both for worship and a visit, after
extensive restoration.The interesting Jewish Cemetery, the
unleavened bread oven, the cellar carvedinto the rock where
Kosher wine is produced, the Kosher butcher, the cleansing
baths for women and the cleaners are all open to the public.
The town is surrounded by important
archaeological sites, from the ancient vie cave to the various
necropoleis and primitive villages. Without doubt, the most
important necropolis is Poggio Buco, the largest Etruscan
centre on the Fiora. In addition to the remains of the original
city, numerous varieties of tombs have been discovered, among
which the monumental cliff tombs such as the Tombadelta Regina
(the Queen's Tomb). The wine production is another good reason
to visit this land.The vineyards, fertilizedby volcanic tufa
and thousand year old humus, produceprestigious white DOC
wines. The caves and tombs cut intothe tufa rock are used
as cellars for the wines' preservation andaging. The olive
oil as well, produced by cold pressing, has few rivals on
the national and international scene.
Where is Pitigliano: is located in the west of Grosseto
province, on the border with the Lazio region.
How to reach Pitigliano: From Grosseto, direction
south, reach Albinia (35 Km) and then turn left direction
Manciano (30 Km) and then Pitigliano (18 Km)
Nearby: Visit Sorano, Sovana, Manciano
Distances: Grosseto 83 Km - Siena 110 Km (Via Cassia)
- Florence 200 Km - Pisa 220 Km - Arezzo 150 Km
Correct name is Pitigliano
Common mistakes are Pitigiano, Pitiliano, Pitilliano,
Pittigliano, Pittiliano, Pitillano
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