Sorano, Tuscany, Italy

© Luigi Vaccarella/eStock Phot

The stone town of Tuscany. Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy

Sorano is a serene medieval village perched atop a cliff in the Italian province of Grosseto, southern Tuscany. Walking through the age-old cobblestone streets, one can explore the Fortezza Orsini, a fortress-turned-museum that dates back to the 11th century. Visitors engage with centuries-old tales of power and defence with each step they take inside the fort. Near Poggio San Rocco and Poggio Croce hills lies a necropolis—a large, ancient burial site—with well-preserved Etruscan tombs that hint at the area's long history.

The Etruscan civilisation inhabited this area and flourished in what is now Tuscany and Umbria between the 8th and 3rd centuries BCE. The hidden valleys of Sorano are home to the Vie Cave, an intricate network of pathways possibly used as a defence system against invaders and wild animals. Here, cooks craft local specialities, maintaining culinary traditions passed down through generations. Stopping at an enoteca—a wine shop—for a glass of the esteemed Morellino di Scansano wine is a must for any visitor to Sorano.