The cities of Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana are rarely mentioned alone. They are considered three very archaeologically important Etruscan cities in Tuscany and are grouped very closely together in the hills of the Maremma Grossetana; as a result of their proximity, they have many similar historical elements.
Pitigliano, a larger city than Sorano and Sovana, rests on the top of a tall hill in the expansive country side. Its rich and diverse history begins with the Etruscans, continues with the Romans and, during the 1500s, includes a period of Hebrew occupation as well as new construction funded by the wealthy Italian Aldobrandeschi family. Pitigliano has also been known as the ‘little Jerusalem’ because of the period of time that it was used as refuge by a small population of Jewish people. The religious synagogue built in 1598 and its Jewish cemetery are still in existence. Age old traditions in food and wine include the famous white wine “Bianco di Pitigliano,” one of the first wines to be awarded the classification of DOC, and some Hebrew influenced dishes like ‘il fegato con cipolla,’ a dish made with liver and onions, and the more classic Etruscan dish called acquacotta.
Pitigliano is also one of 184 Italian small towns awarded with the "Bandiera Arancione" (Orange Flag) for excellency in tourism, hospitality and the environment.
Sorano and Sovana are smaller archaeological towns very close to Pitigliano. They have both had similar times of colonization by the Etruscans and retain great archaeological reserves, were also there to give refuge to the Hebrew people during the 1500s and were chosen by the Aldobrandeschi for prime cities to develop with new construction.
