The small town of Sovana, a real gem of the Città del Tufo (Pitigliano-Sorano-Sovana) has very ancient origins and walking through its small streets paved with cobblestones, much of the history and prestige of the past can still be breathed and touched. .

A city called “Suana” already existed in Etruscan times, under the dominion of the Sovana Roman Empire it was raised to a town hall and obtained Roman citizenship. Starting from the fifth century Sovana became a bishopric.

The current town is characterized by the medieval style, and it is in fact in this period that the city experienced its maximum splendor and its greatest expansion, under the control of the Aldobrandeschi family. It was during the Middle Ages that the fortress was built and that, having become a free municipality, Sovana saw the birth of one of the most important historical figures, Ildebrando di Sovana, better known in the chronicles as Pope Gregory VII.

The village of Sovana

The village of Sovana is certainly unique and characteristic. The central point where everything develops is Piazza del Pretorio. Here there are almost all the most important buildings of the village: the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Church of San Mamiliano (today also a museum with part of the famous Sovana Treasure inside), Palazzo Bourbon del Monte, Palazzo dell’Archivio, Palazzo del Pretorio, the Loggia del Capitano.

Continuing along the main street, not far from the aforementioned square, we will pass in front of the house of Ildebrando di Sovana, Pope Gregory VII and at the end of this street we will find the Cathedral, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. This building has a very particular history, and is certainly the most important in the country. On the opposite side of the village, already visible from the road coming from Sorano / Pitigliano, the Rocca Aldobrandesca.

Outside the inhabited center, the magic of Sovana continues in the Etruscan Necropolis, certainly the richest in the area with many tombs such as, among the most important, that of the Siren, the Ildebrando tomb, the tomb of Silenus and the tomb of Typhon.

Another unique attraction of this area is the vie cave. Ancient streets carved into the tufaceous rock present only in the three cities of the tuff. In Sovana we point out “Il Cavone” and the via cava di “San Sebastiano”. Both are located within the Sovana necropolis and are part of the large “Città del Tufo Archaeological Park”.

In addition, which is not bad, the streets of Sovana are also perfect for trying the local food and wine. Restaurants, wine bars, bars are present in large numbers and are ready to satisfy any type of palate with typical products of the tuff and Maremma lands.

things not to be missed in Sovana

how to get to Sovana

Sovana is located in the heart of the Tufo area, in the municipality of Sorano, a few minutes drive from Pitigliano. The town of Sovana is located just 2 hours from Rome, 4 hours from Naples, 2 and a half hours from Florence and 5 and a half hours from Milan. The car is the best way to arrive, if you decide to arrive by train instead, the closest stations are those of Grosseto (1 hour and 20 away), Albinia (55 minutes away), Orbetello (60 minutes away). distance approximately) and Montalto di Castro (about 60 minutes away), as far as flights are concerned, the reference airports are those of Rome Fiumicino (about 1 hour and 5 minutes) and Pisa (about 2 hours and 45 minutes) .