A breathtaking town carved into the Tufo rock, in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma, Pitigliano is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Also known as Little Jerusalem, thanks to the large Jewish community it hosted within its walls in the 16th century, Pitigliano is definitely one for the bucket list next time you’re in Tuscany.
Perched on a cliff of local stone known as ‘tufo’, the town stands majestically at the crossroads of the valleys of the Lente, Meleta and Prochio, with a wonderful view of the wild and unspoiled Tuscan Maremma countryside.
If you’re visiting with your own car, stop at the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie before entering Pitigliano for a spectacular first view of its spectacular skyline. The massive tufaceous rock supports the entire town, which began as a prehistoric village and blossomed into a modern town.
At night, the view is even more spectacular, illuminated from above by the natural light of the moon, the village seems to be suspended in the void, supported by a mysterious force.
The history of Pitigliano is ancient. Legend suggests the town was founded by two young Romans, Petilio and Celiano, who, fleeing Rome after stealing Jupiter’s golden crown, took refuge in the countryside around Pitigliano, founding the first community from which the city originated, named Petiliano after those two Roman brothers, then becoming, in the following centuries, Pitigliano.
Aside from the legend, Pitigliano can trace its roots farther back than the Roman Empire. The territory was already inhabited in the Neolithic Age. With the arrival of the Etruscans, the Tuscan town was transformed into a veritable city. The Etruscans built the Vie Cave, ancient roads excavated by hand into the tufaceous rock, used as a way of communication and defence and to connect the first villages with the wonderful Necropolis, the Cities of the Dead.
Today Pitigliano is a jewel of art, history and culture, every corner of its Old Town tells a story rich in history. Every narrow alleyway, piazza, panoramic view and museum is one you won’t soon forget.
The tourist attractions that you simply can’t miss when you visit Pitigliano in the Maremma Tuscany.
The town of Pitigliano is home to so many amazing palazzos and historical buildings, the majestic Palazzo Orsini, the ancient residence of the Orsini family, lords of the County of Pitigliano, Sovana and Santa Fiora and the Salvini Theatre, built in 1823 by the Filodrammatica Ravvivati. One of the most striking buildings in Pitigliano is certainly the Medici Aqueduct, an elegant example of ancient architecture, built at the behest of the Orsini, continued in the Medici period and then restored by the Dukes of Lorraine.
Don’t miss the Jewish Ghetto, the ancient neighbourhood built by the Jewish community that lived in Pitigliano from the late 16th century. The ghetto features a Synagogue, the Forno delle Azzime bakery, the Macelleria Kasher butcher, the Cellar and the Ritual Baths. Finally, there are Pitigliano’s churches, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the Church of San Rocco, which is the oldest building in the entire town, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, just outside the town with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
Don’t miss the Archaeological Museum of the Etruscan Civilisation, which is located in a wing of the Palazzo Orsini and houses artefacts found in the Necropolis of Poggio Buco. The Manzi Open Air Museum connects the “city of the living” with the “city of the dead” through an Etruscan built road leading to an ancient necropolis. The Museum of Palazzo Orsini has 21 rooms filled with frescoes and 15th-century paintings, antique furniture, gold, jewellery and silverware, coins, wooden sculptures, paintings on canvas and tablets, precious fabrics donated to the museum from the main churches of the territory. And finally, the town’s Jewish Ghetto with its museum, synagogue and underground city.
The main events in Pitigliano. From the Torciata di San Giuseppe in March, to the famous Infiorata flower festival in June, to the Festa del Contadino, which takes place on the first weekend of August and Calici di Stelle, an unmissable event dedicated to wine and the local cuisine in Pitigliano. Also worth catching is the Festa della Contea, a medieval festical also held in August and Settembre DiVino, the town’s most famous festival celebrated in the tufa rock cellars and attracting thousands of visitors each year. And finally Christmas in Pitigliano, with plenty of events and activities to celebrated the most wonderful time of the year.
A gorgeous Tufa rock city, Pitigliano is located in the south of the Tuscan Maremma.
On the border between Grosseto and Viterbo, close to both Bolsena Lake and the Terme di Saturnia, Pitigliano is one of the most important towns in the so-called Città del Tufo, a district which also includes Sovana and Sorano.
Pitigliano can be easily reached both by car on the SS74 that connects Orvieto and Albinia, and by bus using connections from Grosseto, Orvieto and Viterbo.
The nearest railway stations are in Albinia, Orbetello, Grosseto and Viterbo, from the station, you can reach Pitigliano by bus, for Tuscany with the Tiemme line, for Lazio with the Cotral line.
The nearest airports are Rome’s Fiumicino – 155km – Florence – 237km – Pisa – 241 km.
The reviews on Pitigliano and its tourist attractions, written by tourists on Tripadvisor.
Little Jerusalem
A jump into the past. A precious cultural and traditional treasure of the Pitiglianese community. The Jews of Pitigliano have contributed in an exemplary way to the growth of the town and their presence is felt in every corner and with every breath. Sacred and memorial place, not to be missed ...
Walking through the historic center among the narrow and characteristic alleys, you find yourself in the ghetto with its Synagogue that evokes sacred atmospheres and thoughts that inevitably slip into memory in search of images of a recent heavy past. A visit is a must ...
I never thought I'd find a synagogue in Tuscany. Rereading the history it is clear that the Jews arrived in Italy and chose Livorno for the
Its particular characteristics. In this country this synagogue represents a point of reference for the Jewish communities in the area. The visit is rich and meets the expectations of the most demanding. A must try ....
It is possible to visit the ancient ghetto and the synagogue with a single ticket costing € 5 ... Interesting structures dug into the tuff by the Kasher butcher, passing through the oven and the cellar ... in the upper part of the structure there is the synagogue where it is mandatory for men to wear a headdress ... to see! ....
If you happen to be visiting Pitigliano, take some time to visit the Jewish quarter, the ghetto established by the doctors in 1662, later named "the little Jerusalem". Obviously you cannot miss a visit to the Synagogue and the premises surrounding it, which from the ritual bath "Tevilà" to the preparation of "Kasher" food (wine and meat) and unleavened bread, show the main references of the Jewish community's way of life. .....
I had seen the film "the bread of memory" at the house of cinema in Rome, it tells the story of Elena Servi, the last Jewess of Pitigliano.
Thanks to the Orsini family, in Pitigliano in the sixteenth century, many Jews fleeing persecution and imprisonment in ghettos. In those years the Synagogue was built, the cemetery on a tuff slope near the town.
With the arrival of the Medici, the Jews were evicted from their homes and forcibly moved to the Ghetto. The community grew to reach 1/4 of the country's population. Today the rooms of the ancient ghetto can be visited: the ritual bath, the slaughterhouse, the oven, the wine cellar, the dry cleaners and the synagogue. During the visit you can feel intense emotions walking in these caves dug into the tuffaceous walls. The small museum is interesting and cozy ....
A concentrate of history within this wonderful country, told to me by grandparents and parents who lived through the war years. The renovated synagogue has the possibility of being seen with guided tours that can be booked directly on the spot. In addition it is possible to buy characteristic products of the kosher tradition ...
Pitigliano is a jewel, an enchanted and fascinating place that seems to emerge from the tuff rock on which it rests. The ocher-colored buildings seem one with the rock.
Pitigliano is also known as the Little Jerusalem, due to the historical presence of a Jewish community and a Synagogue, one of the most characteristic monuments of the historic center. It seems that it was built (in 1598) on a pre-existing oratory. Inside we find interesting furnishings (16th and 17th centuries). Under the temple we find the rooms for the Ritual Bath, the Unleavened Oven, the Kosher Butcher, the Kosher Cellar and the Dyeing ...
Pitigliano is one of the most important villages in the Tufo area, together with Sovana and Sorano, from which it is only a few kilometers away.
The village of Pitigliano enjoys a strategic position, a short distance from some of the most important centers of the Tuscan-Laziale Maremma. In about 30 minutes by car you can reach Saturnia, famous for its thermal waters, Manciano “La Spia della Maremma”, Montemerano, one of the “most beautiful villages in Italy” and Scansano, the city of Morellino. Also in about 30 minutes by car you arrive at Lake Bolsena to visit the enchanting villages that overlook its clear waters: Bolsena, Montefiascone, Capodimonte, Marta, Gradoli, Grotte di Castro, Latera, Valentano, San Lorenzo Nuovo and Acquapendente. Also in the territory of Tuscia you can visit the towns of Civita di Bagnoregio “The City that Dies” (about 44 km from Pitigliano), Tarquinia (about 70 km from Pitigliano) and Tuscania (about 45 km from Pitigliano), famous all over the world. for their priceless archaeological heritage. Absolutely not to be missed is the city of Orvieto, reachable in just 1 hour by car. Monte Amiata and its characteristic villages are about 50 km away, do not miss the opportunity to discover Santa Fiora, Arcidosso, Castel del Piano, Seggiano and Castell’Azzara. In addition to history and unspoiled nature, Maremma also offers dream experiences in terms of well-being: a few kilometers from Pitigliano are the Terme di Sorano and Terme di Saturnia, two of the most important spas in southern Tuscany. With a few more kilometers you can also reach the Terme di Vulci, the Terme di Viterbo (establishments and free spas) and the wonderful Terme di San Casciano.
Curiosities, legends, anecdotes and up-to-date news about the city of Tufo.
Il centro storico del borgo di Pitigliano (GR) si trasformerà in un palcoscenico di sapori, musica e tradizioni. Cene nei vicoli, cantine storiche aperte, concerti e tanti eventi ti aspettano! Non perderti questi 4 giorni di festa in uno dei borghi più affascinanti d’Italia.
