Sovana Travel Guide

 BruceDunning Says:  It was founded by the Etruscans, but in time Pitigliano became more important. There is a little church called SAnti Pietro e Paolo that is pretty and from 12th-13th century. Nearby is the Santa Maria church form the 16th century. It had a lot of tries to be famous by the... 

 BruceDunning Says:  Behind the Medici castle is the path leading to the Etruscan ruins/caves. The path is really dark and scary for those trepid ones. The necropolis was a very large complex during Etruscan era, and the tomb of Hildabranda is here in the rocks. He was named Pope Gregory in... 

 BruceDunning Says:  It is a nice stroll to walk the main street and take in the little shops that vendors are selling valuable souvenirs. There are not many, but what was there had unique gifts to enjoy and look at with hope of purchasing. 

 BellaFrancesca Says:  If you want delicious food, friendly service in a charming setting at moderate prices go to Trattoria Pizzeria la Tavernetta in Sovana. You'll have a memorable meal served by the owners Mauro & Angela! 

 iandsmith Says:  This is really what Sovana is all about, its Etruscan heritage. Where the tripod is sitting there is a T-intersection and the even-narrower side chute leads up to an old necropolis that overhangs the cliff face.Imagine if you will the work involved in cutting through the... 

 iandsmith Says:  Though there are officially three longitudinal streets in the town you could be forgiven for thinking there's only one and, where it diverges at the clock tower, its name changes.Whatever the number, as you walk up the Via Mezzo the first thing that stands out as you reach... 

 iandsmith Says:  Seems wherever one travels in this most Catholic of lands there are signs of a pope. One either lived here, was buried here, passed by here or had a palace here. In Sovana's case they have strong evidence that Pope Gregory VII was born in this very house in the 9th century.... 

 iandsmith Says:  At the opposite end of the street to the castle is the main church, of part Romanesque and part Gothic design and dating back to at least the 9th century. It has that wonderful historical feel, the doorway of white marble set in brown and grey stone with its bas reliefs and... 

 iandsmith Says:  And this is the tomb. The finest and most unique example of Etruscan burial sites. There are two chambers (not visible here) that descend forward and to the right where the burial sites actually are, the earliest being dated around the IVth century B.C.Though originally... 

 iandsmith Says:  Well, actually, in this case considerably less but this is the enlightening sign that graces the famous Tombe di Ildebrande or Hildebrande's Tomb. 

 iandsmith Says:  To walk this Etruscan road in a snow storm with no one else in sight or sound is an eerie experience, evoking times gone past and thoughts of how and why it was built in this manner.Here I'm walking up to a hairpin bend on the Via Cava just out of Sorana.Here and there are... 

 iandsmith Says:  Sometimes, despite the great efforts they make, VT can be frustrating. For instance, Viterbo, a town of 60,000 people, doesn't rate a mention, yet Sovana, population marginally over 100, is in there. The nearby and more populous Sorana, from where Sovana is administered,... 

 iandsmith Says:  The highly scenic road leading to Sovana (from Sorana) descends to the Lente Gorge before winding its way up the other side where you will find the Chiesa di San Rocco parking area that will lead you to the Etruscan roads. 

 iandsmith Says:  I wasn't expecting this type of stuff till I got to Sovana but soon after I crossed the bridge on the way out of town a sign beckoned me. Was it my quarry? Turned out to be part of the same road system that I was looking for, along with the Etruscan tombs. 

 iandsmith Says:  This extraordinary bit of architecture is known as the Masso Leopoldino and rises above the Palazzo Comitale.Probably the site of an Etruscan acropolis in ancient times Leopoldo di Lorena chose to place fortifications here in the 18th century.Its unusual shape is dictated by...