Sorano is a picturesque hill village in the southern part of Tuscany, Italy that is part of a group of ancient villages that also includes Sovana and Pitigliano. It is really quite astonishing how well preserved the village is and how unchanged over the last few hundred years.. Squeezed along the top of a rocky ridge it is when seen from the east that Sorano shows itself at its best giving the appearance of a medieval village that is literally dug into the tufa and almost indistinguishable from the hillside. Above the village is the Orsini Fortress, built in the 14th century and then rebuilt in the 16th century. Your visit falls naturally into two distinct parts: the Orsini Fortress, and the old village itself. Inside the village there is a labyrinth of alleys and staircases staircases that ascend and descend in meandering streets and give the village a unique medieval feeling. Start your visit to Sorano at the Orsini Fortress. This imposing 14th century fortress was restored and reinforced by Niccolò Orsini IV in 1552. First admire the entrance to the fortress from the central tower and where you find the powerful doorway. Before entering take a look at the low wall leading to the finely worked entrance arch, to the right and left of the entrance. On the arch itself you can see the monumental emblems of the Aldobrandeschi lords (rampant lions) and the Orsini lords (a bear). Pass through the portal and after crossing a drawbridge you come to the Fortress. Here you enter a vast square surrounded by walls and a round tower. This is the remains of the oldest tower that is still in existence from before the work performed by Niccolo Orsini IV. On the memorial tablet, on which Nicholas IV engraved all his titles, we read that Nicholas was the Count of Pitigliano, Sovana of Nola, and that he restructured the building into a barracks. #mynovgetaway #thanksgiving #mynovgetaway#thanksgiving