One of the fascinating features of the region are the ancient Cavoni, or excavated roads, which are a network of roads and paths cut into the hills and bedrock, sometimes up to 20 metres deep. Cavani are found throughout southern Europe in Spain, Italy, Turkey and even Jordan, but the finest examples are in the Maremma, specifically the network linking the Entruscan sites and settlements around Pitigliano, Sovana, and Sorano.

Cavoni are pre-Roman, dated as being carved before 200BC, but who exactly built them, and why – possibly as a defense system against invaders – is unknown. The Romans connected and used them as part of their own extensive road network, and the modern winding road west out of Sorano even drives through one, but the Via Cava di Fratenuti near Pitigliano is particularly beautiful, which leads to the Necropoli di San Giuseppe.