PITIGLIANO

From the Bronze Age to WWII, this little town captures the essence of Italy.

Carved from volcanic stone, the town of Pitigliano is ocated south of Montepulciano, and not too far from the thermal mineral waters of Bagno San Filippo. 

The cliffs of Pitigliano, Sovana and Sorano protected the remains of the many peoples who called the Fiora Valley, and its protective peaks, their homes since 2300 BC.

The peculiarities that would have this area and this small town stand out from the rest are numerous. ou start by looking for the remains from the Bronze Age, Neolithic times and even the Copper Age — many of which are visible in various local museums.

Then, there are the ruins of a necropolis and the remains of a temple, evidence which suggests an Etruscan community was here in the VI century. It is possible though, that around 500 B.C., they were destroyed by Porsenna, the King of Chiusi. 

Though the Roman presence is less visible to the naked eye, there is ample proof that they attempted to build on the plateau in front of Pitigliano.

Bringing us up to the 1600s where one can still admire the Medici aqueduct in the town center.

Noteworthy is the documentation of a large Jewish presence in this town starting in the early 1600s.  Ferdinando I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, made it easier for this highly persecuted population to settle down in this area. The area has also distinguished itself for the role it played in helping the Jews escape from the racial laws and opposing forces during WWII.

Local products and typical dishes

Much of the Tuscan countryside boasts unique and flavourful dishes, many of which have come into being due to the ingenious use of the limited ingredients. Sometime though, the recipe honors the past. One excellent example is the “sfratti”, a stick-shaped biscuit filled with ground walnuts, honey, nutmeg, orange peel all wrapped in dough. (A good place to try this recipe is at Panificio del Ghetto at 167 Via Zuccarelli, near the synagogue.) The word “sfratti” is derived from “sfratto”, which translates to eviction.

The tradition of wine in this area is based on Tuscany's white grape of choice (Trebbiano Toscano). Bianco di Pitigliano, is a crisp white wines with floral and mineral notes. There are also several red wines to be tried, the more famous fall under the Morellino di Scansano or Sovana DOCs. The wines from this area are celebrated in a special event called SettembrediVino, when they open up the cantinas (wine cellars) carved from stone in the cliffs of Pitigliano.