Medieval Sorano is located in the Tuscan province of Grosseto. Like the better-known, nearby Pitigliano, the picturesque town is a Città del Tufo, a so-called tuff stone town. The tuff in this region dates back to volcanic activity. It is the most widely used building material here; the stones are cut from the rocks on site.
It is no coincidence that Sorano is affectionately defined as "the Matera of Tuscany". In this small village in the province of Grosseto, located more in Lazio than in Tuscany given its geographical position, you will truly feel catapulted into a parallel reality. The village is located in the historic area of Maremma, on the top of a tuff cliff, just under 400 meters above sea level, and is truly very pleasant to visit. Furthermore, the tourist offer of Sorano is completed with two truly interesting destinations: the Sorano spa, a must for enthusiasts of the genre and for travelers looking for relaxation and well-being, and the small town of Sovana, which really deserves a visit thanks to the multitude of things to see in a very small space. From Sorano you can easily reach a series of Tuscan attractions that are truly not to be missed: Pitigliano, another city built on a tuff cliff, and the Saturnia spa. Therefore, use Sorano as a base to sleep in, visit it far and wide, and then start discovering its wonderful surroundings: you will thus spend a splendid holiday in Tuscany full of culture, relaxation and fairytale landscapes.
Among the attractions of Sorano, the most fascinating is undoubtedly the Masso Leopoldino. It is a large castle built for defensive purposes, located in the center of the town on the top of one of its hills, a real fortified citadel and symbol of the city. The structure was enriched by a terrace and a crenellated tower, complete with bell and clock, between 1820 and 1822, at the hands of Grand Duke Leopold II; it is from here that the castle got its current name.
The Vie Cave, built by the Etruscans, are a series of open-air streets and roads dug into the tuff hills. They are located within the Città del Tufo archaeological park, and will lead you to discover the Etruscan necropolises, crossing tuff walls up to 20 meters high. Walking along the Vie Cave, also known as "tagliate", will amaze you especially when you think about the fact that they were dug without the help of mechanical means, thanks to the fact that tuff, when wet, is easily workable. Some of the Vie Cave are part of an ancient road system that connected the various localities in the area.
Translated by Google •
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