What are the Tuscan towns built on tufa?

The three Tuscan towns associated with tuff are Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana, in the south of the Maremma, in the province of Grosseto. They are not built solely with this rock: they are perched on cliffs of volcanic tuff, and their narrow streets, troglodyte dwellings and passages carved into the stone derive their character from it. A small administrative note: Sovana is a hamlet of the municipality of Sorano, not an independent municipality.

Pitigliano is the most spectacular to see from afar, perched on its rocky spur; Sorano is clinging to a cliff and preserves quarters carved into the tuff; Sovana, smaller, is best known for its medieval center and its nearby Etruscan necropolises. In the countryside around the three towns, you can also explore the vie cave, ancient paths carved into the rock: plan on good shoes, as some sections are uneven. The villages are close to one another: allow about 9 km by road between Pitigliano and Sorano, and you can plan a day to discover them without rushing. For the Etruscan context, here is the guide to Etruscan heritage in the Maremma.