Pitigliano
Pitigliano is simply a fairytale town. It appears to have grown from the stone of a beautiful promontory, bound by green valleys and crossed by the Lente and Meleta rivers. It’s high walls are made of tufa, an ancient rock, and shaped by a thousand Etruscan caverns. The houses, constructed on a tufaceous drum, are similar to high fortifications and are surrounded by well maintained and beautiful walls.
The town itself has an ancient and riveting past, whose remains can be seen in the Etruscan tombs and Roman ruins in the area. This past is also demonstrated in the quaint old streets, the antique Medieval houses and famous Jewish ghetto. This large Jewish community, dating back to 15th century, has become a “Little Jerusalem” for this beautiful village. After a series of renovations, the Synagogue is open once more to tourists. You can also see the Hebrew cemetery, a kosher bakery, an ancient wine cellar carved out of rock, a butchershop and a beautiful public bath.
The richness of Pitigliano’s past has also been handed down in it’s wine production . The vineyards, fertilized by volcanic tufa and a millennium old humus, produce one of the most well known Italian white wines. Famous for its excellence and taste, it was one of the first wines to receive the recognition of DOC, an award of great honour reserved for the best Italian wines. This same respect for local and ancient traditions is also present in the town’s production of the extraordinary, cold-pressed olive oil.
The long and significant history of Pitigliano means that the town celebrates many charming and ancient festivals. The “Torciata di San Giuseppe”, held each year on the 19th of March, is the most characteristic and beautiful of these local celebrations.
On the evening of this festival, a group of men dressed in habits carry bundles of lighted reeds on their shoulders from Via Cava to the town square. Here the reeds and a puppet representing the ‘Harsh Winter’ are burned, creating an impressive and magnificient display.
Other festivals unique to Pitigliano include the “Petilia Festival”, a perfect mixture of music, wine and food; and the renowned International Documentary Film Festival, organized during the first week of December.
