Vitozza

The path that leads to Vitozza is winding, half-hidden and… magical, a true adventure that will take you on a journey back in time.

Immersed in the village, this ancient city is hidden among the trees, and the atmosphere is truly suggestive, almost mystical!

It is right here, under the wild forest, that hundreds of people lived, mainly in the caves used as dwellings, dug into the enormous rock face, and surrounded by endless rows of oaks and firs.

Vitozza is located just 10 minutes from Sorano, it was inhabited in medieval times. It was one of the main rural settlements of the time in the territory of the Tufo area.

The settlement of Vitozza was inhabited starting from the 12th century, but archaeologists believe that the area saw human presence as early as the prehistoric period.

The most plausible reason for the existence of this rural settlement is probably to be found in the desire of a large group of people to escape the control of the Aldobrandeschi who, in medieval times, controlled practically all the cities in this part of the Tuscan Maremma.

Regardless of the reasons behind its construction, Vitozza is today one of the most incredible and fascinating attractions in the area, almost unknown to the masses, but of profound historical importance.

There are about 200 caves hidden in the trees, some natural, some hand-dug.

The community that lived in Vitozza during the Middle Ages had an incredible social organization, unlike what one might imagine today when seeing the caves used as homes.

The first group of caves that you meet are structured on two or more floors, probably the highest floors had the function of housing, and were accessible by means of bridges or wooden stairs, while the lower ones were used as a warehouse for wood , food or high.

The second group of caves, rectangular in shape, housed the animals, while the third group, arranged in a semicircle, were probably used as a convivial place for meals.

But it is certainly the last group of caves that is the most interesting, they were built by the Romans and are called Colombai, because they were used for the breeding of doves and pigeons, then sold on the market for the livelihood of the community.

Just outside the rock settlement, there are also the remains of an ancient Aldobrandesco castle, of which today the ruins of some towers remain, you can also see the remains of a small church and some ancient houses.

Arriving in Vitozza is like leaving the modern world and entering a world of other times, dominated by wild nature.

The settlement of Vitozza was inhabited until the end of the 17th century, when the Grand Duke of Tuscany forced the inhabitants to leave the rural settlement to move to the nearby towns.