Sovana is is pretty little village just north of Pitigliano, with historical roots as a thriving Etruscan village in the 7th Century BC, and which retains all it’s unique medieval architecture and style without the unfortunately common Baroque restyling. It retained its identity art, culture, and language through the centuries of Roman rule, and was one of the first communities in Italy to covert to Christianity in the 4th Century.

It is the birthplace of Pope Gregory VII, one of the great reformist popes, and also Saint Mamiliano, the legends about whom were the basis of the book, The Count of Montecristo. It was practically abandoned for many years during the period of slow decline during the late middle ages, driven by the lawlessness and disease which blighted so many communities in the area, but recovered and thrived in the 20th Century.

Sovana is tiny, and gorgeous, and well worth a visit, especially the ruins of the Aldobrandesca fortress, the main square Piazza del Pretorio (which sells brilliant artisan gelato), and the recently restored Church of San Mamiliano, plus the cathedral dei Santi Pietro e Paolo. But honestly, in an hour you’ll see everythng!