Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
corporates a tiny, richly adorned synagogue (established in 1598 and one of only five in
Tuscany), ritual bath, kosher butcher, bakery, wine cellar and dyeing workshops.
Interpretative panels recount the history: in the course of the 16th century, a Jewish
community settled in Pitigliano, growing considerably when Pope Pius IV banned Jews
from Rome in 1569. Under Medici rule, its members were moved into this tiny ghetto,
where they remained until 1772. From then until well into the following century, the local
community of about 400 flourished, forming the largest Jewish community in Italy and
leading to the town being dubbed 'Little Jerusalem'. By the time the Fascists introduced
the race laws in 1938, most Jews had moved away; only 80 or so were left and very few
survived the war. Those that did survive were hidden from the Fascists by locals.
Palazzo Orsini
(
www.palazzo-orsini-pitigliano.it
;
Piazza della Fortezza; adult/reduced €4/3; 10am-1pm & 3-7pm Tue-
Sun summer, 10am-1pm & 3-5pm Tue-Sun winter)
Interlinked Piazza Petruccioli and Piazza
Garibaldi provide a majestic walkway towards this 13th-century castle, which was en-
larged by the Orsinis in the 16th century, became the residence of the local bishop and is
now a museum. Its rooms are filled with an eclectic collection of artworks and ecclesiastic
oddments from churches in the diocese.
MUSEUM
Museo Civico Archeologico di Pitigliano
(Piazza della Fortezza; adult/child €3/2; 10am-5pm Mon, Thu & Fri, to 6pm Sat & Sun Jun-Aug,
10am-5pm Sat & Sun Easter-May)
Accessed via a stone staircase opposite the entrance to
Palazzo Orsini, this small but well-run museum has a rich display of finds from local
Etruscan sites. Highlights include some huge intact
bucchero
(black earthenware pottery)
urns dating from the 6th century BC and a collection of charming pinkish-cream clay oil
containers in the form of small deer.
MUSEUM
COMBINED TICKET
If you're keen to investigate the area's Etruscan heritage, buy the
combined ticket
(adult/child €6/3)
giving entry to both the Museo Civico Archeologico di Pitigliano and the Museo Archeologico
all'Aperto 'Alberto Manzi' (
Click here
) outside town.
Festivals & Events
