Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana day trip from Saturnia or Orvieto or Grosseto
A day trip to Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana from Saturnia, Orvieto or Grosseto: Sorano on its rock with the Masso Leopoldino, the Etruscan tombs of Sovana and the Tomba Ildebranda, Sovana's Romanesque cathedral and its one-street village, then the via cava of San Giuseppe, the view of Pitigliano from the Madonna delle Grazie, Pitigliano's old town and the synagogue of Little Jerusalem. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Sorano (Masso Leopoldino)
Medieval village clinging to a tufa outcrop over the river, topped by the Masso Leopoldino terrace with views over the rooftops.
Etruscan necropolis of Sovana (Tomba Ildebranda)
Etruscan tombs carved into the tufa in the woods below Sovana, led by the temple-like Tomba Ildebranda with its columns.
Sovana Cathedral
Romanesque cathedral at the far end of the village, with carved capitals, a crypt and a quiet, bare interior.
Historic centre of Sovana (Piazza del Pretorio)
A tiny village of one main street ending in Piazza del Pretorio, with the old palace, a medieval church and small restaurants.
Via Cava di San Giuseppe
Etruscan sunken road cut deep into the tufa below Pitigliano, a short, cool walk between high rock walls hung with ferns.
Pitigliano viewpoint (Madonna delle Grazie)
Roadside sanctuary facing Pitigliano across the gorge, the place for the classic view of the town on its tufa cliff.
Historic centre of Pitigliano (Piazza della Repubblica)
Old town of lanes and arches on a tufa ridge, with the Orsini palace, the aqueduct arches and views over the gorges.
Little Jerusalem: Synagogue and Jewish Museum
The synagogue of Pitigliano's old Jewish community, with the old matzah oven, the ritual bath and the kosher wine cellar below.
Watch: Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is needed to link the three towns: Pitigliano is about 15 minutes from Sovana and 20 from Sorano. From Saturnia the drive takes about 40 minutes, from Orvieto about an hour and from Grosseto over an hour; buses are few.
Staying in Saturnia or Orvieto or Grosseto? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana
Spring and autumn are the best for walking the vie cave and the necropolis, with mild weather and green or golden hills. Summer is hot but lively, and the evenings are pleasant in the towns. On 19 March Pitigliano holds the Torciata di San Giuseppe, with a procession of burning torches through the streets.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
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Tips for Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana
- The Sovana necropolis is part of an archaeological park with fewer opening days in winter; check before going.
- The synagogue and Jewish museum of Pitigliano are closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
- Walk the Via Cava di San Giuseppe, one of the deep Etruscan roads cut into the tufa; it can be muddy, so wear good shoes.
- Stop at the Madonna delle Grazie on the road from Sovana for the classic view of Pitigliano rising from its cliff.
- Try Bianco di Pitigliano wine and the sfratto, a honey and walnut pastry from the town's Jewish tradition.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Historic centre of Pitigliano (Piazza della Repubblica): unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Sorano (Masso Leopoldino): Zyance, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Sovana (Piazza del Pretorio): Zyance, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Little Jerusalem: Synagogue and Jewish Museum: Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Pitigliano viewpoint (Madonna delle Grazie): trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sovana Cathedral: Sidvics, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Via Cava di San Giuseppe: Sidvics, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
