Pitigliano is a beautiful town in the very south of Tuscany. It sits on a high ridge of tufa, volcanic rock. If we had driven towards it from the sea I would have been able to show you a spectacular photo of the sheer cliffs with tumble of houses on top made of the same material.
We came from Orvieto, another town sitting on top of a tufa plug, left behind after the area around was worn away over centuries by the wind. We only had a few hours in the town, but we made the most of it. After parking the car in a car park nearby, we headed into town via a walkway above the street far below, through some houses, into Piazza Garibaldi (almost every town has one).
The town sits well above the plain below. The area has been inhabited since Etruscan times.
The main square in town is Piazza della Republica, dominated by the Palazzo Orsini.
Part of the old town is known as the Little Jerusalem, for the historical presence of a Jewish community. We set off to find the Synagogue. Of course we wandered through narrow,winding streets. 4,000 people live in and around the town and it has a lively, happy atmosphere.
For several hundred years the town was home to a flourishing Jewish community, mostly made up by people fleeing from Rome during the Counterreformation. The museum, which also includes entry to the synagogue is very well presented. There is an underground bakery, the bath house and a slaughter house dug deep into the tufa under the town.
The synagogue has been beautifully restored.
After the Jewish museum we went in search of lunch. There were several other churches and buildings to explore, but they will have to wait until next time.
We chose Osteria Il Tufo Allegro for lunch and we agreed that food was the best we had eaten on our little adventure. The restaurant is dug into the tufa and is a series of small rooms.
Now, take a look at lunch.
These bread rolls were absolutely pefectly cooked…..and delicious.
I also photographed the lunch of the person beside us because it looked so good.
We had no room for dolce, but these delights were served with coffee.
We met the charming chef and his lovely wife who served our delicious lunch, Domenico and Valeria.
Say hello when you go, and you should go………. have a bread roll for me.
The restaurant is in Vicolo della Costituzione 5. It is closed on Tuesday and for lunch on Wednesday.
Telephone….. (39) 0564 616192
Email…..iltufoallegro@libero.it