The beautiful Fiora valley stretches across the vast inland territory of the Maremma, from Manciano up to Santa Fiora at the foot of Mount Amiata, east to Pitigliano, and west to Scansano. It was first settled half a million years ago when rhinos and elephants roamed the area (there’s a prehistoric elephant skull in the museum in Manciano), and it was the heart of Etruria, the Etruscan empire.

Marsiliana and Saturnia were two great cities of Etruria, and the tuff towns of Pitigliano and Sorano were important quarries. Their workers were responsible for the remarkable network of excavated roads the cross the region. In Scansano they perfected winemaking, and the Morellino wine made there now comes from an actual clone of the original Etruscan grape grown there. But most of all, the Etruscans were farmers, in these beautiful golden hills and fields.