Pitigliano and the Etruscans' Sunken Roads

By any measure, Pitigliano presents a dramatic spectacle as it rises above you on the way in.  It is an almost unaltered medieval town perched on a massive outcrop of a soft rock called "tufa" which has allowed its inhabitants, over the centuries, to make cellars, caves and houses in the living rock - it must be like the proverbial Swiss cheese!

As well as these structures, the Etruscans, some two thousand five hundred years ago, made unique "sunken roads" in this rock, which wind everywhere around the town.  Their purpose is not known, but seems to be associated with funerary rites ...  It must be said, that the town with its dark canyon-like streets, and its dark sunken roads, though beautiful, presents a rather melancholy counterpoint to the sun-drenched (at the moment!) and vibrant Tuscan countryside!

Pitigliano in all its glory as we approached yesterday ...

... and the scene at night

On the way out of town to the Vie Cave - the sunken roads

Heading up the first roadway - note the carefully cut drainage
channels in floor and wall

Steps were cut in the steeper sections ...

Up above, the olives are still ripening in the midday sun ...

... and the insects are still busy - like this beautiful dragonfly

A little sunlight illuminates this section of road as we descend again