Sovana is a small town in southern Tuscany, Italy, a frazione of Sorano, a comune in the province of Grosseto. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

History

Etruscan by origin, Sovana became a Roman municipium, and, from the 5th century, an episcopal see. Conquered by Lombards in 592–605, it was chosen as their administrative center in the area. Later, when Roselle was abandoned due to Saracen ravages, it became the centre of the county under the Aldobrandeschi family. In the Middle Ages it was known as Soana. Its importance declined when the county was acquired by the Orsini, who moved the capital to Pitigliano. In the mid-16th century Sovana was annexed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by Cosimo I de' Medici.

Main sights

People

Pope Gregory VII (Ildebrando di Soana) was born here.