Sovana

Sovana is a small, charming and pleasant village with only 500 inhabitants, but it has a long history. The houses are distributed along a long street from the remains of the fortress to the cathedral through Piazza del Pretorio.
Restored in the twentieth century, it has become one of the most beautiful villages of Tuscany, located more precisely in the Area del Tufo, the “tuff region” like its neighbours Pitigliano and Sorano.

History

The territory of Sovana has been occupied since the 7th century B.C. on the heights of the Fiora river, where ancient Suana, the old name of Sovana, was founded on a tuff spur between two streams. From this period date the great Etruscan necropolises of the surroundings.
It was occupied by the Romans as Municipium, then controlled by the Aldobrandeschi in the Middle Ages. Ildebrando di Soana (circa 1020-1085) was born here, later to Pope Gregory VII.
After the Renaissance, the passage of the Orsini and the Medici, a plague epidemic was at the origin of the progressive abandonment of Sovana.
The village was restored and taken back in color during the twentieth century thanks to its remarkable archaeological heritage, It is then worthy of being listed among the most beautiful villages in Italy.
It is conveniently located away from the main tourist routes, close to Pitigliano or the thermal baths of Saturnia which are more visited.

Thing to do and see in Sovana

Rocca Aldobrandesco

The remains of Rocca Aldobrandesca are one of the main attractions in Sovana, located at the eastern end of the village. Its foundations date back to the castle built by the Aldobrandeschi in the 11th century, which was restored in the 15th and 16th by the Sienese and Florentines. With its keep and surrounding enclosure it protected the eastern access.
These imposing tuff ruins are very suggestive, where primitive walls could date from an Etruscan structure.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral

At the western end of Sovana, almost 700 metres from the Rocca, stands the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, the most important building in the village and one of the most important in the Maremma region, which was a long time episcopal seat in the Middle Ages.
Its architectural style is marked by the transition between Romanesque and Gothic, built in the 11th and 12th centuries on a church probably from the 8th century. The first thing that is noticed is the side gate, adorned with a stone arch with pretty sculptures.
The charming interior is formed by three naves divided by pillars bearing barrel vaults on which are supported the ogive crosses of the central nave. The capitals are carved with biblical episodes, natural motifs or faces, a beautiful holy water fountain dates back to the 17th century, baptismal fonts date from the 15th century and the vaulted crypt houses the relics of Saint Mamilian (San Mamiliano, Vth AD).

Piazza del Pretorio and monuments

The Piazza del Pretorio is the most beautiful place in Sovana, the main square of the village where you will find the town hall, the palace, two churches and the San Mamiliano Museum. The latter preserves the finds of the archaeological park excavations, as well as the Sovana Treasure with its 500 gold coins from the end of the 5th century AD.
The Bourbon del Monte Palace is a 16th century building with a beautiful portico and arcades, originally home to a Bourbon bishop.
The suggestive Romanesque church of San Mamiliano dates back to the 6th century. There was found the treasure of gold coins and old tombs, during restorations while it had remained without a roof.
The Palazzo Pretorio is an ancient medieval palace. On the facade are the coats of arms of the old houses that ruled Sovana, adjacent to the medieval loggia del Capitano.
The church of Santa Maria Maggiore dates from the 12th century, rebuilt in the 16th century, retaining Romanesque and Gothic elements, with inside very beautiful frescoes and a remarkable ciborium in the apse.
The Palazzo Comunale (the City Hall) stands out with its curious shape and small bell tower, dating back to the 12th century and later reworked.

Sovana Archaeological Park

In San Martino sul Fiora near Sovana, you can discover the vast archaeological park Città del Tufo dating back to the Etruscans (Parco Archeologico Città del Tufo) including the rock galleries (the Vie Cave) such as the Via Cava del Cavone, and the necropolis with many beautiful monumental tombs. For example, the Tomb of the Winged Demons and the Tomb of Ildebranda considered one of the most important in Tuscany. The Tomb of the typhoon of the II century B.C. is a typical example of a tympanum tomb with a portico. The Tomb of Silene from about the third century BC. is a Roman stone with four columns in the Ionic style. The Tomb of Pisa is a beautiful chamber tomb from the 3rd century B.C. with its 9 rooms. The Tomb of the Mermaid of the same style, 3rd century BC, has a facade surmounted by a carved pediment, which probably represents Scylla, a creature half woman and half fish. In the niche below is the worn figure of the deceased during a banquet (typical and frequent representation among the Etruscans for their urns, sarcophagi and funerary frescoes).

Guided tours in the surrounding area

Where is Sovana, map

Links and sources

• General informations : en.wikipedia.org
• Tourist portals and blogs : www.visittuscany.com, www.sovanaguide.it

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