Sovana

Sovana is one of the oldest and most evocative villages in the Tuscan Maremma, a small gem of stone and tufa that preserves the atmosphere of an ancient Etruscan and medieval settlement. Together with Pitigliano and Sorano, it is part of the “tufa villages” and lies within the “Città del Tufo” Archaeological Park, a true open-air museum.

The historic centre is easily explored on foot: the main street runs through the village up to the Co-Cathedral of San Pietro, a rare example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture in the Maremma, with an imposing façade and interiors rich in frescoes and sculptures. Along the way you will find historic palaces, churches, and small squares that tell centuries of history, from the Aldobrandeschi to the Orsini families.

Just outside the village lies the Etruscan Necropolis of Sovana, with monumental tombs carved directly into the tufa rock, including the famous Tomba Ildebranda (3rd–2nd century BC), the only Etruscan temple-tomb of its kind in Italy. Running alongside the necropolis are the mysterious Vie Cave, deep corridors cut by the Etruscs into the volcanic stone, now immersive paths through nature and archaeology.

In the village, the Museum of San Mamiliano houses Etruscan, Roman, and medieval finds, as well as the famous “Treasure of Sovana”, with hundreds of 5th-century gold coins. For guests staying at Casetta di Pitigliano, Sovana is a perfect destination for a half-day trip, combining archaeology, walks in the countryside, and the discovery of one of Tuscany’s most authentic villages.