Along the ways of the historical centre, which can be visited in about two hours, you will clearly see the medieval structure of the house and the alleys. Under the city you will literally find a second hidden town, traversed by intercommunicating underground passages, wells on different levels, sepulchres and «columbarium»: niches where funerary ashes were kept.

Every dwelling has its own cellar, which runs down ever deeper, until the room of the cooper, where the wine is kept at a pleasantly cool temperature. As well as the tuffaceous cavities there resist still the Medicean aqueduct and the Orsini fortress. The latter was commissioned by the Aldobrandeschi family, erected in the XIII century and finished under the Orsini, whence the name. The palace can be accessed through an internal square, at the center of which rises a wonderful hexagonal well decorated with the insignia of the Pitigliano county and of Count Niccolò III.

Pitigliano, as well as its historical importance, (many Hollow Ways pass through here), also has a well rooted religious background, sop much so that it is known with name of "Little Jerusalem". The city has had, ever since Medieval times, a considerable Jewish presence, from which we can still see today the Synagogue, the Museum of the Little Jerusalem, the Azyme bakery and the Israeli cemetery. Every year there is a Festival of Hebrew cinema and culture with exhibitions, concerts, guided tours and cerimonies.

The city of Pitigliano is also well known for its white wine, among which Fauno (new wine), bianco di Pitigliano (D.O.C.), San Rocco, Ildebrando, Kasher (its grapes are selected and worked under the control of the Rabbi, chief of the Hebrew community of Livorno) and the Gran Tosco.

October.2002

Comune di Sovana - Pitigliano (In Italian and partly in English)
Festival di Cinema e Cultura ebraica