From the mid 16th century, Pitigliano had a big Jewish community. The history of the Jews in this town is interesting and their culture had been assimilated with the local culture. Jews came to Pitigliano mainly due to the fact that they were forced to leave the Papal States. The Jewish community flourished in the 19th century with they community making almost 20% of the town's population by 1850. Many members of community however left after 1871 when Italy was united and the Jews granted legal emancipation. By 1931, only 70 Jews were left in Pitigliano and they were joined with the Jewish community in Livorno. These numbers were unharmed despite the anti-Semite propaganda and the passing of the racial laws in 1938.

By Car: Pitigliano lies between Rome and Florence. If you are coming from Rome drive along the Aurelia road, towards Civitavecchia. Continue up to Albinia and turn right to join the SS 74. Alternately, you can take the A1 up to Orvieto and turn left to join the SS 74. If you are coming from Viterbo, take the Via Cassia until Marta-Capidomonte-Valentano and follow signs from there to reach Pitigliano.

If you are coming from Florrence, take the A1 up to Orvieto and again exit to join the SS 74.
If you are coming from Siena take the Via Cassia up to San Lorenzo Nuovo and from there join the SS 74.

By Train and Bus: There are no direct trains to Pitigliano. If you are coming by train or bus, you will first have to get to the Albinia station. From here you will have to take a bus to reach Pitigliano.

The company that runs buses between Albinia and Pitigliano is called RAMA. For tickets contact 0564 25215.

There are numerous Etruscan cave-tombs. These caves are cut deep into the rocks and are now used as cellars and sheds. The urn bearing cellar from Roman period are the only things to survive from that age. The urns were put in the niches cut into the cellars.
Jewish Pitigliano

When Pitigliano had a flourishing Jewish community, it was called The Little Jerusalem. The remnants of this Jewish past can be seen today through the synagogue and the Jewish museum. There is a walking tour that takes you through the areas in which the Jewish community lived. The tour will take you to the synagogue, the museum, the Jewish cemetery, the ghetto bakery and the local fattoria where you can buy kosher wine. If you want to visit just the synagogue and the museum, call 0564 616077 for more details. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 1 pm and again from 3 pm to 5 pm. The museum remains closed on Mondays.

Sorano also had a Jewish community. This one is smaller than that of Pitigliano. At Sorano, you should visit the Jewish ghetto area to get a true taste of the years gone by.
Castle

The Orsini Castle at the entrance to the old town is a must see. Inside it is an archaeological museum, famous for its impressive collection of sacral objects. You can spend a bit of time exploring it and also walk around its surroundings. Next to the castle is a medieval aqueduct that was the town's old water supply.

Situated at the piazza are two bars - the Bar Centrale and the Bar Italia. These bars were situated 6 meters above the ground in the mediaeval period. There is a chapel in the cellar under the Bar Italia with some interesting frescoes from the era. However, both the chapel and the frescoes are inaccessible today.

There is an old agricultural and household tools museum close to the city hall. The exhibits were once tools used by local people everyday in the fields and their kitchens. The main attraction here is the underground rock tunnel.

The cathedral stands on Piazza San Gregorio. It was built in the 15th century and has some beautiful painting by Pietro Aldo. Underneath the cathedral lies the synagogue and the Forno delle Azzime (a disused kosher bakery).

The cathedral, however, isn't the old church in Pitigliano. That honour lies with the San Rocco Church with a recorded reference from 1274. San Rocco is at the end of the old town. This church is especially unique as it is in the shape for a trapezium and has slim travertine columns.

If you go to the end of the old town you will see a flight of stairs that leads to the medieval gate. This is called the Porta di Sovana. Outside the gate still stands the remnants of Etruscan city wall.

Situated just outside the town (on the road to Sorano) is a beautiful park that was started in the 16th century. You can spend some time amidst the lush greenery. In the north side of the park you will find statues and stone seats craved out of local rock.

It is a treat to walk through the old paths of Pitigliano. The entire town is covered in numerous paths that are surrounded by walls over 10 meters high. These walls were erected by the Etruscans and they drop from the top of the plateau to the river valleys below. Some path take you outside town, for instance, one of them leave Porta di Sovana and descends to the left and takes to the modern road that extends to Sovana. Here, cross the road and continue down to the bridge across the Meleta River. From there you could continue to follow the Etruscan path up to the church Madonna delle Grazie.

Wine made in Pitigliano is very famous all over Italy. The most famous wine coming from this region is the Bianco di Pitigliano. This wine has won a number of prizes. Also famous is the kosher wine made here. The popularity of this wine has risen in the past few years. When you are in Pitigliano, make sure you try this unique wine out.