Rupestrian oratory

Hidden in an incredibly wild forest, this ‘rock’ is today one of the oldest symbols of Italian civilisation.

Technically it is not in Pitigliano. Instead you will find it on the road to Sovana. It is located above an ancient Etruscan tomb and, according to historians, dates back to the early Christian era around 397 BC.

The rock itself was originally part of an Etruscan temple, but was later transformed into part of a tomb, and then again into a cellar.

Adjacent to the rock, the small cave is still visible, once used as the main place of worship by the Etruscans who inhabited the area in the 4th century BC.

If you want to visit the Oratorio Rupestre, and I don’t see why you shouldn’t, especially if you’re interested in ancient history, then stop by the Pitigliano tourist information center and ask for directions.

The rock, the Etruscan walls and the still standing streets around it, are located in the middle of an incredible forest, so it’s a bit of a walk to reach them.

But the scenery is almost as beautiful as the ruins themselves and is even more worth the trip.