{"id":8115,"date":"2022-12-01T10:39:20","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T09:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maremma.name\/sorano\/"},"modified":"2023-08-31T13:32:18","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:32:18","slug":"sorano","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/maremma.name\/en\/sorano\/","title":{"rendered":"Sorano"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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SORANO<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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One of the three tuff towns in southern Maremma <\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The second City of Tufo is an oasis of stone in a sea of green.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Over the centuries, three rivers have carved deep furrows into the lower levels of the cliff that supports Sorano, so that many of its houses now hang dangerously above the depths of the Lente river valley. The city probably takes its name from the Etruscan-Faliscan god Pater Soranus who ran with the wolves and spent eternity hidden in the mountains. It’s an apt name for a city built on an isolated cliff. The best way to appreciate Sorano is to randomly wander its narrow streets. The city is too small and narrow for you to run the risk of getting lost. Each street has its own character and offers an astonishing view of the surrounding wild landscape. This countryside is full of necropolises and prehistoric ruins which can be explored (ask the tourist office; 0564 633099). Sorano also has its hot springs: although not as famous as those of Saturnia, these springs are just as hot, and flow from an underground source at 36\u00b0C all year round.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What to see in Sorano<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sorano begins right in front of the imposing Orsini<\/strong> fortress in via Cavour.
Despite its name, the fortress was built by the Aldobrandeschi, who are said to have had a residence for every day of the year.
Today, the Orsini fortress is an important example of medieval and Renaissance military architecture and perhaps the best preserved fortress in the Maremma. The historic center of Sorano is accessed through a stone arch, which from a distance appears large and welcoming – but it is an optical illusion intended to deceive the invading armies – and which opens onto a bright courtyard. To your left is the bastion of San Marco, used in the 14th and 15th centuries to make gunpowder from the white moss that grew on the damp walls of the fortress. In fact, only the top of the fortress is visible, while the rest descends up to 15 meters underground in a labyrinth of tunnels built by Niccol\u00f2 IV Orsini in 1552. Niccol\u00f2 is remembered as a cruel and bloodthirsty ruler: under his reign,
the already impregnable Orsini fortress was further strengthened. The tunnels have never been used and between 1558 and 1608 the Orsinis sold everything to the Medici. Since then the Orsini family dismantled its previous glory in debauchery and slowly disappeared into anonymity. And yet, Sorano remains one of the few towns in the Maremma that has never been invaded. The tunnels are the most interesting part of the Orsini fortress and can only be seen with a guided tour. The tour will also take you to the Palazzo Comitale<\/strong>, the Orsini’s stately home which now houses the Museum of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.<\/strong> Inside there are some works of art and ceramics from the Renaissance period. The museum tower was built to serve as a love nest for Niccol\u00f2, who used it to take advantage of the local women. It is said that he died when he fell from a cliff while chasing one that had escaped him. On the walls of the tower you can see beautiful frescoes and also the score of a madrigal written by a 16th century Bolognese musician. Wandering through Sorano, one cannot help but notice that all roads lead to the Masso Leopoldino<\/strong>: this terrace, built on a spur of natural tuff, was perfectly leveled already in the 19th century and was reinforced to resemble a battleship. On clear days, it is the best place to admire the beauty of the elaborate stones of Sorano in contrast with the wild valley; one can also distinguish the small caves dug into the tuff cliffs by the Etruscans and used as warehouses. To reach the Church of San Niccol\u00f2<\/strong> you have to walk down the hill from the Orsini fortress to Piazza Busatti. The church was dedicated to San Nicola da Bari in 1290. The pope of the time was very devoted to this saint and the Countess of Sovana Margherita Aldobrandeschi was linked to the pope himself, which explains why this saint is also venerated here. The lack of interior decoration suggests that Margherita lost interest in the work before it was finished.<\/p>\n

Baths of Sorano<\/a><\/h2>\n

The Sorano Spa<\/strong>, located in the splendid Tuscan Maremma, is an oasis of relaxation and tranquility. Surrounded by a large park and set among breathtaking views, these spas are a short distance from the picturesque villages of SOrano, Pitigliano and Sovana.<\/strong> The thermal complex includes a large thermal swimming pool with covered area, a sports swimming pool open in the summer, a wellness centre, a restaurant and an elegant residence. A path in the park leads to the Bagno dei Frati<\/strong>, a tub used in the 1400s by the friars who lived in the nearby parish church.<\/p>\n

The water of the Terme di Sorano is bicarbonate-magnesium-calcium and flows from the source at a temperature of 37.4\u00b0C. This water is unique in Italy for the treatment of dermatological diseases, in particular psoriasis and dermatitis. Water-based thermal therapies have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antipruritic, sebum-regulating, antioxidant, keratoplastic and keratolytic effects. Thermal waters are also particularly suitable for regulating skin circulation.<\/p>\n

The Terme di Sorano<\/strong> are open every day, with different times depending on the season. During the summer period, from April to October, the daily hours are from 10:00 to 19:00, while the afternoon hours are from 14:00 to 19:00. During the winter period, from November to March, the daily hours are from 10:00 to 18:00, and the afternoon hours are from 14:00 to 18:00. Entrance prices vary according to the day and time.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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NOT TO BE MISSED<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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CHURCH OF SAN NICCOLO'<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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MASSA LEOPOLDINO<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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COMITAL PALACE<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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VITOZZA<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ORSINI FORTRESS<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sorano photo gallery<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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