East of Grosseto

<< Tuscany

The hilly area east of Grosseto features many historic towns and a beautiful natural environment. This area includes the Città del Tufo, a series of small towns among the tuff hills, which house several ancient sites.

Saturnia

Saturnia is a small town in the Province of Grosseto, part of the municipality of Manciano. Inhabited since ancient times, the village is now known as a popular spa resort.

✪ Terme di Saturnia

The Terme di Saturnia are a group of springs and thermal spas located near Saturnia. The most famous area among the springs are the Cascate del Mulino, a series of picturesque waterfalls located around a historic watermill. The site has been known for its hot springs since the time of the Etruscans and the Romans, and has been developed as a thermal resort in the 20th century.

Sovana

Sovana is a tiny village located among the tuff-rich hills of the Province of Grosseto, and it is part of the municipality of Sorano. The town was an important Etruscan settlement and, during the Middle Ages, it was first an episcopal see and then the center of local government. Its importance later declined, and now the town features various historic attractions.

Archaeological Area of Sovana

Sovana was an important Etruscan city, and now its ruins form the main part of the Parco Archeologico Città del Tufo, a series of archaeological sites located between Sovana, Sorano, and Pitigliano. The ruins of Sovana feature various Etruscan necropolises with several large tombs carved in the tuff. The park also includes some of the Vie Cave, Etruscan passages that link the town with Sorano and Pitigliano.

Sovana Cathedral

Also known as: Co-Cathedral of San Pietro (Concattedrale di San Pietro)

The Sovana Cathedral (Duomo di Sovana) is the main religious site in Sovana. Originally erected in the 8th or 9th century, the church was rebuilt in Romanesque style in the Late Middle Ages. The church features various medieval decorations and an ancient crypt.

San Mamiliano Museum

The San Mamiliano Museum (Museo di San Mamiliano) is an art and archaeology museum located in a former medieval church. The museum displays of treasure of hundreds of Roman gold coins dating from the 5th century and found during excavations under the church. Various other archaeological finds and ancient artworks are hosted in the museum.

Pitigliano

Pitigliano is a small hilltop town in the Province of Grosseto, located in an area rich with the volcanic rock called tuff. The town is nicknamed “Little Jerusalem” (Piccola Gerusalemme) for the historical presence of a large Jewish community.

Jewish Museum of Pitigliano

The Jewish Museum of Pitigliano (Museo Ebraico di Pitigliano) is a museum dedicated to the Jewish community that historically inhabited the town. The museum hosts various objects and memorabilia, and it includes a small synagogue.

Palazzo Orsini

Palazzo Orsini is a medieval fortified palace that once housed the local rulers. The palace now serves as a museum complex, and it includes an art gallery with many pieces of religious art, and an archaeological museum featuring a collection of ancient finds mostly from prehistory and the Etruscan period.

Alberto Manzi Open-air Archaeological Museum

The Alberto Manzi Open-air Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico all’Aperto Alberto Manzi) is an archaeological path that includes some of the Vie Cave, a series of of Etruscan passages that connect various necropolises and religious sites. These routes are located around Pitigliano, and link the town with Sovana and Sorano.

Sorano

Sorano is a small town located among the tuff hills of the Province of Grosseto. Inhabited since ancient times, the town features some historic attractions and various archaeological ruins.

Orsini Fortress

The Orsini Fortress (Fortezza Orsini) is a fortified complex erected during the Late Middle Ages in Sorano. Built over various phases, the complex includes structures from different eras and styles, and it is linked with the surrounding ramparts through narrow underground passages. The castle now houses an archaeological museum featuring various finds unearthed around the town.

Santa Fiora

Santa Fiora is a small town located on the southern slopes of Monte Amiata, in the Province of Grosseto, and historically known for its mining activity.

Museum of the Mercury Mines of Monte Amiata

The Museum of the Mercury Mines of Monte Amiata (Museo delle Miniere di Mercurio del Monte Amiata) is a museum hosted in the historic Palazzo Sforza Cesarini in Santa Fiora. The museum is dedicated to the history of the mining industry around Monte Amiata, and it features several pieces of equipment and memorabilia, along with exhibitions on the local geology.