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Pratini Holiday Houses

Residenza Pratini is an exclusive accommodation to enjoy Tuscany Maremma and its countryside, Saturnia SPA, and the ancient Etruscan sites and medieval castles and towns. Located in the area of Montemerano castle with shops and facilities at short distance (newsagent, restaurants, pizzeria, bar, pharmacy, typical food shops, etc....).

Where we are, at short distance from Montemerano medieval town, on the top of an olive trees hill.In the highest part of the town the Castle and the square tower, little streets, typical houses, frescoes remains and decorations on the house faces.
Around one the entrances of the ancient walls: Saint George Church with valuable artistic works.

Sightseeing:
Manciano: Situated on a hilltop, the town of Manciano is home to a uniquely breathtaking view in all directions: from the Amiata to the Fiora valley, from Talamone to the beaches of Montalto di Castro and from the Argentario to the Islands of Giglio and Montecristo.

The town is synonymous with the saying, 'Manciano, the home of witches, wherever you look, you see them,' suggesting that magic and enchantment fill the streets. Archaeological findings near the surrounding towns of Saturnia, Marsiliana and Poggio Murella, indicate that Manciano was first settled in prehistoric times. It was ruled in the 12th century by the Aldobrandeschi family and later by the Orsini Counts from Rome. However, its geographical postion and solid walls didn't prevent it from being conquered in 1461 by the Sienese Republic, which built a fortress overlooking the vast panorama. Today this fortress provides one of the most stunning and breathtaking scenic views in all of the Maremma.

Visits are made easy by a network of roads and paths for walking, trekking, mountain-biking or horse riding. The zone is also home to other equally as beautiful and antique towns, including Montemerano, an authentic Medieval gem, built on a hill and surrounded by age-old olive trees.

And Saturnia, a little town with an amazing Etruscan, Roman and Medieval past, recognized globally for its hot sulfur springs, which push out water at a temperature of 37.5° all year round.

Pitigliano: Pitigliano is simply a fairytale town. It appears to have grown from the stone of a beautiful promontory, bound by green valleys and crossed by the Lente and Meleta rivers. Its high walls are made of tufa, an ancient rock, and shaped by a thousand Etruscan caverns. The houses, constructed on a tufaceous drum, are similar to high fortifications and are surrounded by well-maintained and beautiful walls.
The town itself has an ancient and riveting past, whose remains can be seen in the Etruscan tombs and Roman ruins in the area. This past is also demonstrated in the quaint old streets, the antique Medieval houses and famous Jewish ghetto. This large Jewish community, dating back to 15th century, has become a 'Little Jerusalem' for this beautiful village. After a series of renovations, the Synagogue is open once more to tourists. You can also see the Hebrew cemetery, a kosher bakery, an ancient wine cellar carved out of rock, a butcher shop and a beautiful public bath.

The richness of Pitigliano's past has also been handed down in it's wine production . The vineyards, fertilized by volcanic tufa and a millennium old humus, produce one of the most well known Italian white wines. Famous for its excellence and taste, it was one of the first wines to receive the recognition of DOC, an award of great honour reserved for the best Italian wines. This same respect for local and ancient traditions is also present in the town's production of the extraordinary, cold-pressed olive oil.

The long and significant history of Pitigliano means that the town celebrates many charming and ancient festivals. The 'Torciata di San Giuseppe', held each year on the 19th of March, is the most characteristic and beautiful of these local celebrations.
On the evening of this festival, a group of men dressed in habits carry bundles of lighted reeds on their shoulders from Via Cava to the town square. Here the reeds and a puppet representing the ‘Harsh Winter' are burned, creating an impressive and magnificient display.

Other festivals unique to Pitigliano include the 'Petilia Festival', a perfect mixture of music, wine and food; and the renowned International Documentary Film Festival, organized during the first week of December.

Sorano: Sorano and the surrounding towns are filled with examples of their Etruscan origins, dating back to the period of this civilization's greatest splendor.
Sorano was built on a high rock in an extremely picturesque position, which fascinates all people who visit it. With the passage of time the rock has come to resemble a natural cliff, only slightly refined by Renaissance architecture. Sorano first belonged to the Aldobrandeschi family, who utilises it as a defensive position, fortifying it with the walls which can still be seen today. The village then passed under the dominion of the Orsini family, who built a beautiful fortress; one of the most lovely monuments of the village. Finally In 1608 it became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

The rich history of Sorano is still very present in the town today, as old traditions and festivities continue to be practiced by it's inhabitants. Surrounding the village are areas of astounding natural beauty, filled with vineyards, olive growns, fields of wheat and farms. As a result of this agricultural environment, Sorano is well known for the high quality of its local produce, including oil, cheese and wine.
The territory around Sorano is one of the most historically significant in all of the Maremma, containing many ancient and beautifully maintained Medieval fortifications. These sites include the Castle of Montorio, the fascinating city of Castell'Ottieri and the Castle of Montebuono.

Another area of interest near Sorano is the archeological park, 'Città del Tufo,' (City of Tufa) which is unique to the Maremma and the site of some of Italy's historical, archeological and cultural treasures. The church of San Sebastiano, the Aldobrandeschi fortress and the necropolis, with its antique tombs carved out of rock, are just some of these treasures.

Sovana: Assumed to have been place of importance in Etruscan and Roman age, Sovana became the Episcopalian seat in the 6th century. However today, the history and evolution of the city dates back no further than the 12th century, due to a peculiar lack of documentation.

In the Middle Age Sovana consisted of one castle, built by the renowned Aldobrandeschi family. A fortress and other numerous public buildings and churches followed sortly after. In this period, Sovana enjoyed a level of celebrity as the birthplace of Ildebrando of Soana, who later become Pope Gregorio VII, in 1073. This importance decreased in the 14th century, when control passed to the Orsini family. The town suffered epidemics of malaria, frequent wars and economic crisis, causing a notable decrease in the population.

Today the village appears isolated and abandoned, consisting of less than 500 inhabitants. How