Etruscan Hilltop Towns of Italy Tour

Your trip starts in Orvieto, one of the oldest towns in Italy, sitting atop a tuffaceous cliff on the border between Umbria and Lazio. If you arrive early, enjoy a stroll through this former centre of the Etruscan civilization and visit its impressive cathedral and the St.Patrick Well, a masterpiece of engineering. It is 62 meters deep, it has a diameter of 13.5 meters and two 248 step spiral staircases that never meet, lit by 72 windows that create a surreal atmosphere.

To celebrate the beginning of your trip, enjoy a local dinner and a glass of local great wine in one of the restaurants in town.

On your first day of walking you will cross the border between two regions, leaving the soft hills of Umbria to approach Lazio. First thing in the morning, a transfer takes you to Civita di Bagnoregio. Civita is also called “the dying city” as the hill where it is located is being eroded at the base by the continuous action of the two streams in the valleys below, as well as by the effect of rain and wind.

Here you can decide to take a shuttle bus to avoid all or part of the asphalted road to Lubriano. In Lubriano you can visit the nice Naturalistic Museum. From the viewpoint of the Madonna del Poggio church you can finally enjoy the impressive, lunar-like landscape of Calanchi (the Italian badlands) with Civita di Bagnoregio overhanging the valley.

From Lubriano you continue along tarmac and gravel roads to Orvieto, crossing again the border to enter Umbria.

Today you walk from Orvieto to Bolsena, enjoying another change of scenery and region. The further you go, the richer the nature. Catch the first glimpse of Lake Bolsena, a crater lake originating from the eruption of the now dormant Vulsini Volcano. Continue along dirt tracks, alternating thick woods with meadows scattered with olive trees.

You’ll reach Bolsena. If you are curious to see proof of the miracle of the Corpus Domini, for which Bolsena is famous, marble slabs stained by the blood pouring from a host in the 13th century are kept in the Cappella del Miracolo. If, instead, you are more interested in the cuisine, you can taste Sbroscia, a local soup made from lake fish and tomatoes.

A private transfer takes you to Tuscany and to the Etruscan Necropolis of Sovana this morning. The site houses several kinds of tombs from simple cave-like excavations to the tomb of Hildebrand, a monumental temple named after an 11th century pope who was born in Sovana. You then start your walk through vineyards, olive groves and pastures, which takes you to Pitigliano, rising dramatically from a ridge and surrounded on all sides by a deep ravine.

Just before arriving at Pitigliano, you walk across an Etruscan Via Cava, a deep and narrow cut in the cliffs that was used as an efficient defensive system against invaders.

Today you have two choices: you can take an easy walk along the most renowned Vie Cave of Pitigliano, visiting an archaeological park on the way. As a second option, you can take an optional transfer (not included) to reach an Agriturismo just out of town, walking back to Pitigliano through the beautiful Maremma countryside, passing Etruscan tombs and “tagliate” on your way.

Today’s destination is Sorano. This enchanting hilltop hamlet is also known as the “Matera of Tuscany” for its conformation, with groups of stone houses perched on the top of an imposing rocks. The Orsini fortress overlooks the whole town, an impregnable castle that used to belong to the ancient and noble Orsini family, and where you will spend your night.

On your last day, explore the surroundings of Sorano with an easy walk. Albeit being your last walk, the itinerary does not disappoint as you walk through the archaeological area of Vitozza, with the possibility to take a short optional detour to visit the ruins of a Medieval castle and church.

The trip ends after breakfast. Depart for the airport via public transport unless you have pre-booked a private transfer.