Pitigliano

Pitigliano is a typical village Maremma Grosseto unique to the special being built entirely on a boulder tufaceous, mentation, because it makes one of the most interesting of the tuff.

Known also for the traditional feast of St. Joseph Torciata "during which burning a snowman gives symbolic farewell the winter, the country over the years has become an important tourist destination of Maremma.

The land was already inhabited in very ancient times, as can be easily witnessed by the many findings of Etruscan origin, as the necropolis quarries and the streets, brought to light in the areas surrounding the country legend, the village was founded by two young , Petilio and Celiano that fleeing from their city after stealing an object important decided to take refuge in this part of Tuscany, founding a new country.

Currently, campaigns by recent archaeological excavations, it was found that Pitigliano was the protohistoric appropriations during the various stages of the Bronze Age (2000 - 1000 BC). Later it became the site of an important Etruscan settlement of which parts of walls and numerous necropolis. The Etrusco di Pitigliano name is not known, perhaps concerned that Statnes (or Staties) in Roman times and became Prefecture was called Statonia.Il name instead derives from Pitigliano gens Petilia important Roman family that gave its name to various locations . Dall'862 begins the domain of the family Aldobrandesca which lasts until the end of the thirteenth century. In 1293 after the marriage of the heir of the family Aldobrandesca, Anastasia, with Romano Hello Orsini, Pitigliano becomes a county in this family Guelph. Until the end of 1400 for the Jews became an important centre, so that in 1598 was erected a temple still exists. In the seventeenth County fell under the domination of Physicians and the first half of the eighteenth becomes part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which will follow the fate until the unification of Italy.

The ancient traditions and customs of the Tuscan village are recounted in museums that have been set up: the Museum of Civilization Giubbonaia, who collects antique tools used in the countryside and homes, the Museum of Palazzo Orsini, and the Museo Civico Archeologico and Finally, the Outdoor Museum "The City of Live, The City of the Dead", dedicated to Etruscan history in the territory.

Pitigliano is very rich in monuments and buildings that tell the story, walking around the country can meet the imposing Cathedral, built during the sixteenth century and dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, the Church of Santa Maria, formerly named after San Rocco, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace, Palazzo Orsini, the fortress Orsini and finally the Monument to Progenie Ursinea, consists of a mass of stone with the coats of arms of family and surmounted by a bear heraldic.

Just outside the town is the Hebrew Cemetery, visited by appointment. In the Ghetto Synagogue, built in 1598 was recently restored and the adjacent premises has been made a Museum of Jewish Art and Culture. In the alleys below develop various circles carved into the tufa: ritual bath, the butcher and the kosher winery, bakery azzimi of all recovered and visited.

Apprezzabile is also the production of DOC wines "Pitigliano White" and "Red Sovana.

From the sweet taste typical, the so-called "Sfratti" in the shape of small sticks with honey and nuts that in the folk tradition, reminiscent in form with the stick he was knocked at the door when the authorities did eviction.