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Pitigliano
 “the town built on tuff rock”
The town of Pitigliano is situated on a steep
tuff rock, 313 metres above sea level, in the northern part of the
Maremma. Three sides of the cliff are surrounded by ravines full of
caves dug in tuff; the town is a typical example of medieval urban
system.
The archaeological evidence in the surrounding area of Pitigliano date
back to the prehistoric age and to the Etruscan and Roman period.
Numerous ‘Vie Cave’, long paths dug in tuff rock, depart
from the town and some are located in correspondence to the necropolis:
the most important are those of Gradone, S. Giuseppe, Fratenuti, S.
Rocco, and Madonna delle Grazie. The necropoli of Poggio Buco is still
well preserved.
The medieval and renaissance history of Pitigliano is linked to two
major families: the Aldobrandesci family (10th – 14th century)
and the Orsini family (14th – 17th century), who connected their
own circumstances to the town, which was compelled to continue fights
with neighbouring towns. In 1608 the county was handed over to the
Medici and therefore started making part of the grand duchy of Tuscany.
All in all the period of the grand duchy of Lorena was a period of
economic and social prosperity (17th -19th century). In 1765 the Grand
duke Pietro Leopoldo of Lorena created the provinces of Siena and
Grosseto: Pitigliano became a town. Finally, with the
“plebiscite” of 1860, Pitigliano got united with the
Italian Kingdom.
One can visit the historical town centre, which consists of three main
streets along which there are numerous alleys: the houses are medieval
and some still preserve the family coat of arms; the Church of S.
Maria, the oldest in Pitigliano, built in approximately 1276; the
cathedral has a Renaissance system but with a baroque façade;
the Church of Madonna delle Grazie; the Church and convent of S.
Francesco; the fortress and the Orsini Palace and the arches of the
Medici’s Aqueduct.
Pitigliano is also known as the little Jerusalem of Italy due to
a Jewish community which arrived in the 15th century. One can also
visit the Synagogue built in 1598, the Ghetto, the Museum and the
Jewish Cemetery.
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