Travel in Tuscany

Stumble upon Some Etruscan History

Getting off the Beaten track:

As you drive on your leisurely way thorough the much admired countryside of Tuscany it is important that you must free up enough time to call a halt when something extra-ordinary crosses your path. As you drive from inland to the coast you may come across a town whose dramatic vista will call you to a standstill. This is the town of Pitigliano; - not a large town but a town whose austere frontage may very well take your breath away.

Pitigliano

Pitigliano perches on the very edge of a rocky cliff face, which in itself seems to rise out of nowhere - surrounded as it is, by gently rolling Tuscany countryside.  Pitigliano is a town of houses with grey stone walls, cropped from local stone and built right to the edge of those tall and imposing cliffs -  not just atop these cliffs but buried down into the actual stone of the cliff faces themselves.

The early Etruscans first settled Pitigliano and much still remains of this ancient  town. Etruscan settlements are distinguished often by their perches on high precipices, enclosed by steep city walls. Pitigliano is the very epitome of Etruscan construction techniques. The first view of a stark grey Etruscan village rising out of  lush green landscape is a moment to remember.

The province of Grosseto in central Italy holds a number of surprises such as Pitigliano for those that wander off the beaten track and take the time to explore. Also in Grosseto - not far from Pitigliano - the hot springs of Saturnia are no secret, but nor are they on the well traveled tourist path. In fact they stand virtually alone in the middle of the countryside, so it comes as something of a surprise to find that so many others travel to this out of the way spot to bathe in these hot springs, also known and used since Etruscan times.

Saturnia

Saturnia’s multi-layered waters cascade down a hill from rocky terrace to terrace, steaming hot, providing many pools to choose from. A waterfall feeds the sulphurous turquoise waters from plateau to plateau onto those taking the waters. Naked or clothed, young or old, local or from far away, all come to enjoy the curative free waters of Saturnia.

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