Vitozza
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Vitozza is an archaeological site near the town of San Quirico in the municipality of Sorano in the province of Grosseto in southern Tuscany in Italy .
history
The Vitozza settlement was built in the Middle Ages, probably from the end of the 11th century, around an Aldobrandeschi castle , although the caves were probably already inhabited by the Etruscans and Romans .
In the first half of the 13th century Vitozza came briefly under the control of Orvieto and then the Baschi family , before the Aldobrandeschi took over again and incorporated the place into the county of Sovana in 1274 .
Between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century, the town was conquered by the Republic of Siena and remained under their control until the middle of the 15th century. Vitozza later became part of the Orsini County of Pitigliano . Later, for unknown reasons, the settlement was shifted away from the castle and the defenses, which led to the decline of the place. Most of the population gradually moved to neighboring San Quirico. However, Vitozza existed until the end of the 18th century when the Grand Duke of Tuscany forced the rest of the inhabitants to leave the caves, as he did not consider the use of caves by his subjects to be contemporary.
Archaeological site
In the Middle Ages, Vitozza had a fortified castle, at least two castles and one large and two small churches in addition to the cave settlement.
settlement
The Vitozza cave settlement is the largest and most important in central Italy. Over 200 caves were cut out of the tuff . The caves are located along a path through the forest above the Lente river valley . They can be divided into four types according to their use:
The first group has tunnels with rectangular openings, often on different levels, connected by ladders and steps. The upper floors served as living space, the lower floors as a stable.
The second group are rectangular caves that were used as stables.
A third type has an arched entrance that leads to a circular cave with surrounding rooms. There was a manger in the central cave.
In the northwesternmost part of Vitozza there is a group of dozen caves known as columbaria, which are believed to date from Roman times. They were used for breeding pigeons until the Middle Ages, a traditional trade around Sorano .
Fortifications
The primo castello (first castle) is a fortification on the main road leading through the entire settlement. It consists of large blocks of tuff. The main path leads through a door of the castle. Remnants of the castle are preserved on both sides of the path. On the north side the building was surrounded by a moat.
The secondo castello (second castle) is a fortification on the way to the dovecotes and the source of the river Lente. It is on a hill to the right of the path and is better preserved than the first castle.
On the northwest side of the plateau near the church there are ruins of another fortification and the remains of a gate that secured access along the ridge.
Chiesaccia
The ruins of a medieval church called Chiesaccia are to the right of the main path near the first castle. It has a simple rectangular plan with a semicircular apse .
literature
- Giuseppe Guerrini (ed.): Torri e Castelli della provincia di Grosseto. (Amministrazione Provinciale di Grosseto). Nuova Immagine Editrice, Siena 1999.
- Carlo Citter: Guida agli edifici sacri della Maremma. Nuova Immagine Editrice, Siena 2002.
Web links
- Site of the archaeological park
- Parco Archeologico "La città del tufo" - Abitato Rupestre Medievale di Vitozza (Italian)
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 42 ° 40 ′ 39.7 " N , 11 ° 45 ′ 25" E