Top Lake Bolsena Cultural Tours

Learn the story of Jewish families that moved to Pitigliano in 16 th century attracted by the tolerance policy of the noble Orsini family for building a synagogue, a school, banks, a cemetery and many shops. In 1600 Florence created a ghetto, but the relationships between Jews and catholic were never so bad and the conditions never miserable as in other Italian ghettos. Later the situation change favorably for the Jews, and the ghetto was closed, so in the 1800 the Jewish population reached the 12% of the citizens and Pitigliano became known as the Little Jerusalem. Enjoy the tour of the restorated synagogue,and ghetto. Visit the new museum that offers the possibility to discover this amazing unique place. The rooms of the ghetto were excavated underground, in the soft tufa rock, with windows open in the cliff, and is possible visit the ritual bath, Mikveh, the oven for unleavened, the textile dye work, the kosher wine cellar and the slaughterhouse, in addition to the synagogue. 

The imposing castle, which belonged to the Aldobradeschi family first and then to the Orsini family, dominates the village that arises from the tuff cliff on the river Lente. A network of alleys that descend to overlook the valley, the extraordinary ancient Jewish quarter (closed on Saturdays), the deep cellars dug under the streets, the Etruscan gate, the hidden corners of the Fratta district, welcome the visitor dazzled by the incredible famous panorama of Pitigliano. We will also visit the extraordinary cave roads excavated by the Etruscans in the surroundings of Pitigliano and we will try to discover the secret of their origin.