Pitigliano is a gorgeous hilltop town in Tuscany Italy that completely blew us away! From our very first visit, we couldn’t get enough of the historic old town, amazing restaurants, and epic views of the countryside. After reading this article, you’ll see that it’s definitely worth spending a night or two! Here’s our favorite things to do in Pitigliano Italy, a quick travel guide to the town, and why it should be at the top of your Tuscany itinerary.
Our First Trip to Pitigliano Italy
We spent this past summer in the alps between Lake Annecy France and a small town on the Italian side of Lake Lugano. After an amazing month in Albogasio-Oria Italy, it was time to head back to Spain!
Since we had our car, we decided to head to the capital and take the Rome to Barcelona ferry to cut our driving time in half. Luckily, we had a few days to get there, and Tuscany was right on the way.
We’ve spent time in this region of Italy during previous summers and fell in love with the food, historic streets, and rolling green hills. Some of our favorite memories of Italy have been exploring towns such as Montepulciano, Pienza, and Cortona. We’ve even climbed the leaning tower of Pisa and experienced all the best things to do in Florence!
We’d actually never yet been to this area of Tuscany yet despite all our travels. As we’d find out, there was so much to love about Pitigliano!
→ 10 Tuscany Italy Travel Tips For an Amazing Holiday
Easy Pitigliano Travel Guide
☀️ We recommend planning at least two nights and using it as your home-base to see more of the area. So often, travelers stop on a day-trip here, but it’s really not enough time. We’ve included some great places to stay in our Pitigliano travel guide below.
- B&B Dimor’à: Located right in the historic center. Clean and modern rooms that are steps from all the action.
- Da Titta: Also located in the historic center. The rooms and decor have a an old world Italian feel.
- Country House Maremma Nel Tufo: If you prefer to stay in a country house, this is a quick drive from town and has a pool!
🍷 There is a massive annual wine festival called Settembre diVino. All the cellars open their doors to the public, so it makes for an awesome time of year to visit. Wine lovers should plan a trip to Tuscany during the fall during harvest season.
🚗 The best way to see Tuscany is with a rental car. We use this company to get super cheap deals whenever we travel in Europe.
🅿️ With that said, parking can be an issue on the streets of tiny hilltop towns like Pitigliano Tuscany. There are closer lots that cost one Euro per hour, but plan to walk a little ways for the free options. It’s best to ask your accommodation what parking lot is closest to you before arriving.
♥️ Never travel abroad without insurance. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last ten years while abroad!
8 Best Things to do in Pitigliano Italy
1. Wander the Old Town Streets
Pitigliano old town is absolutely beautiful, and the first place to go when you get there. The colorful streets wind their way in between buildings, rivaling any Tuscan village.
We loved dipping in and out of local stores, tasting local wine, and having an espresso in the September sun. Don’t be afraid to explore the small alleyways off the main Street, as many lead to epic viewpoints.
Also, if you get thirsty while walking around, Le Logge Bar is a cool spot with tables in the square overlooking a church. We stopped by a couple of times for a glass of wine and late afternoon snack.
2. Stroll to the Piazza Becherini
Speaking of views, you won’t want to miss Piazza Becherini! This is one of the most scenic lookouts in Pitigliano, and easy to get to from anywhere in old town.
Start at one of Pitigliano’s oldest churches, the church of San Rocco. From there, head down via Aldobrandeschi until you get to the large terrace opening at the end.
The walk takes you through the entire town, which is if you haven’t seen it yet. This is a great place to take in views of the Tuscan countryside at sunset… And even better with a bottle of wine!
3. Visit the Jewish Quarter of Pitigliano
Pitigliano has a rich Jewish history dating back to the 16th century. In fact, it was even known as La Piccola Gerusalemme (Little Jerusalem) due to its large Jewish population.
One of the top sights in this part of Pitiglanio is the old Synagogue. It was built in 1598, and the museum is well worth visiting to learn more.
The Jewish community started to leave for larger cities in the 19th century, and very few remained after the horrors of the holocaust. However, this neighborhood is a cherished reminder of the town’s unique history. After you’ve seen the synagogue, be sure to stop into the Jewish bakery next door for a treat.
4. Take the Vie Cave Routes
By now, you can tell that Pitiglanio is a great destination for history lovers. The town was built by the Etruscans almost 3,000 years ago, and there are ancient roads to prove it!
This society controlled central Italy before the Romans and were known for their excellent stone work. They were able to carve roads (and entire towns) by cutting into the volcanic tuff rock.
Today, you can walk from Pitigliano directly on these historic tracks just as the Etruscans did. They have sunken deeper over the centuries, creating an almost tunnel-like experience. You will even see Etruscan tombs inside the walls along the routes.
There are many signs around town to get to the vie caves. We took Canali Etruschi first if you want to do the same. These incredible trails can also be found in the neighboring towns of Sovana and Sorano.
While we recommend seeing some stuff on your own, there are plenty of fun guided tours to check out. This one will take you in the footsteps of the Etruscans, combining history, hiking and wine tasting!
5. Enjoy a Meal at Il Grottino Restaurant
This ended up being one of our favorite meals from our recent Tuscany road trip! Grottino Restaurant is an amazing local gem sitting opposite the cliffside town.
To get there, it’s just a few minutes stroll along the panoramic path from town. We recommend going here for lunch or just before sunset time to lock in a good seat.
If you haven’t tried it yet, the wild boar pasta is a famous dish in this part of Tuscany. This was such a treat with red wine and a view of Pitigliano in all its glory.
Other fantastic restaurants to check out in old town are Pizzeria La Terrazza (reserve a table outside) and La Casa di Gea Pizzeria Asporto if you’re looking for a take away pizza.
6. Shop For Tuscan Gifts
Typically, we wouldn’t include shopping with the best things to do in Pitigliano. Yet, if you’re looking for great gifts for friends and family from Tuscany, then this is the place to get them! There are two small “main” streets that run throughout the town that are filled with cute shops.
We did a lot of our Christmas shopping at Ghiottornia di Polidori Anna. Here you can find things like olive tree rolling pins, local wines, dried tuscan pasta, and ravioli presses.
There is also a wine and artesian food market called Narcisi e Bussi right outside of the old town walls. This is another great place for gifts, but you may want to grab some Pitigliano Italy wine for yourself, too!
7. Visit the Pitigliano Cathedral & Orsini Palace
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is an unreal 12th century church to visit in Pitigliano old town. The timeless blend of Romanesque, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture perfectly showcases the evolving life and culture of this part of Tuscany.
You can visit a small museum to learn more about the history. It’s also located in the Piazza Della Repubblica, which is a nice square to sit and have a drink in.
Another stop to make for history enthusiasts is the Civic Archaeological Museum of Pitigliano. It’s located inside the Orsini Palace, which was the main residence of the family that ruled Pitigliano Italy for over 300 years.
The museum focuses on the Entruscan civilization, with important artifacts from the Vaselli Collection. The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art is also located inside the palace, and well worth seeing if you have extra time.
8. Take a Day Trip From Pitigliano Italy
The last thing we want to share in our Pitigliano travel guide is some fun day trip ideas. As we mentioned, we absolutely loved using Pitigliano as our base to see more of Tuscany.
Some of the most popular places to visit nearby are the hilltop towns of Sovana and Sorano. It’s also just an hour drive to both Pienza and Montepulciano!
However, the best morning we had was waking up early and headed to the free local thermal baths. You may have seen pictures of the Saturnia Hot Springs and the clear blue cascading waterfalls.
Saturnia is definitely worth the drive from Pitigliano, but be sure to go early to avoid the crowds. By 10am it was already pretty packed with people. On our next visit, we’d love to make the hour drive to the Sagni San Filippo thermals as well.
Have any questions about this article or want to share more things to do in Pitigliano Italy? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Pin for Later
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
