ramparts

Ramparts are the belt of walls that surrounds the old hilltop villages of the Maremma, Pitigliano, Sorano, Massa Marittima, Scansano or Castell'Azzara. You spot them right away: they are the walls of tuff or stone, sometimes pierced with arrow slits, that follow the crest of the rock. What matters to you is that they tell you how the village defended itself. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, these towns dominated the valleys and suffered the rivalries between Siena, Orvieto and the local lords. Take the time to walk along the walkway rather than staying in the square: you will understand why the village was built right there, and where the views worth the detour are.