Sovana
Located in a magical and enchanting place, Sovana is a wonderful village in the heart of the Maremma, rising over the stunning panoramas of the Area del Tufo (Tuff Area) and immersed in a fascinating and ancient Etruscan territory.
Surrounded by charming hills and sweet valleys, the town is a true gem of art and ancient culture. An exceptional chest of historic architecture, churches rich in works of art and paintings, and fascinating monuments; the town is seen as one of the most interesting centres in the Maremma. Found in the province of Grosseto, it immersed in a profoundly wild and untouched territory.
Called in past ages by the Etruscan name Suana, the Tuscan city is, today, one of the most beautiful and precious locations in the Maremma. Sovana is internationally appreciated for its ancient history, for the attractions which bring you back to Etruscan age, and for the extraordinary uniqueness and majesty of its historic sites.
Walking down the streets of this wonderful little town is one of the nicest and most interesting experiences you can possibly have.
The town is infused with an ancient history, a culture that has Etruscan origins and a profound spirit that is forever tied to the past.
Not to miss:
The Duomo: dedicated to St. Peter and Paul, its construction dates back to the year 1000, on ruins of an even older sacred building. The church is breathtaking with a stunning example of Romanesque art and is home to precious painting, a crypt which holds the remains of St. Mamiliamo, a baptismal font and a beautifully made stoup.
The Church of St. Mamiliano: built in the first part of the Middle Ages on a pre-existing building of Etruscan origins, the church represents one of the most precious religious locations in the town. During some reconstructive work archeologists found 500 currency notes which were made back in the 5th century A.D.
Church of St. Maria Maggiore: built during the 13th century, the building has a Romanesque-gothic style and inside there is a pre-Romanesque tabernacle and some splendid frescoes.
Palazzo dell’Archivio (Palazzo of the Archive): a medieval building of extraordinary beauty, built in tufaceous stone and attached to an impressive bell tower.
Palazzo del Pretorio: its construction dates back to the 13th century and out the front you can admire the coats of arms of the Captains of Justice who governed the Maremman town. The building was reconstructed during the Renaissance period and is home to two interesting visitor centres.
Palazzo della Loggetta del Capitano (Palazzo of the Lodge of the Captain)
Palazzo Bourbon del Monte: dating back to the Renaissance, this was the ancient seat of the little town’s public offices.
Casa Natale de Iledebrando (Christmas Home of Ildebrando): better known as Pope Gregorio VII
Museum of Malacological Studies of the Earth, located in the ancient Christmas home of Pope Gregorio VII, it holds a huge display of marine and land shells. It is also home to a great aquarium and terrarium which hold mollusks and live shells, as well as a small collection of reptile fossils.
The Visitor Centre of the Archaeological Park of Tufo: located in palazzo Pretorio, it is also the Centre of Documentation of Sovanan Territory.
History:
Of the history here, we know that the area surrounding the Maremman town was already inhabited in prehistoric time, as indicated by the many finds which date back to the Iron Age.
The centre then became an important town of the ancient Etruscan civilization. From the 350 B.C. the town lived a period of great splendor under the Roman Empire, in fact with the arrival of the Romans the city took on a role of great relevance, becoming the Municipium.
Upon the fall of the Empire the power fell into the hands of the Lombards, before becoming an important dominion for the Aldobrandeschi and Orsini families, the Commune of Orvieto and finally for the powerful Republic of Siena. In the mid-16th century it was ruled by the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by the De’Medici family; before being annexed by the Kingdom of Italy.