Sorano, a gem to discover

Sorano is an ancient Tuscan village, in the province of Grosseto, located at 379 above sea level, has 3,200 inhabitants. Since 1300 it was part of the Orsini county together with Sovana and Pitigliano in whose castle the counts had their residence. In Sorano the Orsini transformed the ancient fortress with moat built by the Aldobrandeschi into a powerful border fortification that was never conquered. They enlarged the southern part of the fortress and in 1500 it became an admirable example of military construction with underground walkways that connected to two bastions and a high keep. From the internal courtyard of the structure you go down towards the village through a suggestive covered ramp illuminated by arched openings. After passing the ancient gate, you reach the village, an intricate and fascinating ball of alleys with elegant ashlar buildings, carved wooden doors and where the ancient synagogue, the count's palace, the Leopoldino museum and the Collegiate church stand out. The Leopoldino rock, an ancient natural fortress that overlooks it, acts as guardian of Sorano; in 1800 part of the fortress collapsed. Once the houses sloped gently down towards the river but the continuous landslides forced the inhabitants to move the urban nucleus upstream. From via del ghetto you enter the old quarter, where a Jewish community with a synagogue lived. Continuing to go down, you pass through Porta dei Merli, once the main entrance to the village. A series of bridges leads to the vie cave where we find a spectacular rock complex of Etruscan tombs reused as a hermitage, home, stable or dormitory.