Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Orbetello
q
Road map
D5.
*
15,455.
V @
n
Piazza della Repubblica 1 (0564
86 04 47).
(
Sat.
Orbetello is a crowded
resort bordered by
two tidal lagoons. Part of
the northernmost lagoon
is managed by the
Worldwide Fund for
Nature as a wildlife park.
The town was the
capital of a tiny
Spanish state, called the
Presidio, from 1557 until
1808, when it was absorbed
into the Grand Duchy of
Tuscany. The Porta del
Soccorso bears the coat of
arms of the king of Spain.
Inside the gates is the
Polveriera Guzman
, which was
originally used as an
arsenal. The Duomo,
Santa Maria
Assunta
, also has
Spanish-style
decoration, but the
altar in the Cappella
di San Biagio is
typically Romanesque
in design.
The Fontone di
Talamone, in Piazza della
Repubblica, is a
terracotta plinth
from the Roman-
Etruscan era.
E
Polveriera Guzman
Viale Mura di Levante.
Cafés and shops in Sovana's medieval piazza
Pitigliano
0
Road map
E5.
*
4,361.
@
n
Piazza Garibaldi 51 (0564
61 71 11).
(
Wed.
small exhibition of work by
the artist Francesco Zuccarelli
(1702-88). He also painted
two of the altarpieces in the
medieval
Duomo
, whose huge
belltower supports a bell
which weighs 3 tonnes.
The
Museo Etrusco
contains finds from
ancient local
settlements.
Pitigliano looks spectacular
perched on a plateau, high
above cliffs carved out by the
river Lente. The houses seem
to grow out of the cliffs, which
are riddled with caves cut out
of soft limestone. The caves
have been used for many years
to store wines and olive oils.
A maze of tiny medieval
streets passes through the
Jewish ghetto, formed when
Jews fleeing from Catholic per-
secution took refuge here in
the 17th century. The Palazzo
Orsini in the town centre has
its water supply brought in by
an aqueduct, built in 1545, that
overhangs Via Cavour. The
Museo Palazzo
Orsini
in the
palazzo has a
Museo Palazzo
Orsini
Piazza della Fortezza
Orsini.
Tel
0564 61 60
74.
E
10am-1pm,
3-7pm (to 5pm in winter)
Tue-Fri.
#
&
R
Duomo
Piazza San Gregorio.
#
Coat of arms on the
Porta del Soccorso
daily.
7
Museo Etrusco
Piazza della Fortezza Orsini 59.
Tel
0564 61 40 67.
#
E
Call
Tourist Information for details.
R
Santa Maria Assunta
Piazza del Duomo.
#
summer: 10am-1pm,
3-7pm Thu-Tue; call to check
times in winter.
#
daily.
View over Pitigliano showing soft limestone cliffs and caves bordering the river Lente
