The Città del Tufo Archeological Park is so vast that it takes days to explore.

Connected by a series of tracks and paths, the park is spread across the Maremman countryside and begins near Sorano with the Vie  Cave.

The Vie Cave were ancient roads that connected Etruria with the necropolises and other nearby settlements. Carved right into the rock face, these roads are hidden in the forest near Sorano and are extremely tall.

It’s a bit of a hike through the forest to get to these roads, but the trip is worth it just to admire the necropolises that line the cliffs above them and travel along the same routes the Etruscans once travelled

Oh, and I when I say travel, I mean it. This isn’t one of those look-but-don’t-touch museums. It’s more of a nature park. Low in tourists, big in natural beauty and completely open to those who want to walk and touch slices of ancient history.

At the Vie Cave there are numerous routes you can take.

You can explore the rock-carved tombs (1st century B.C- 1st century A.D) near San Rocco.

You can explore the ruined Etruscan settlement in Vitozza.

Or you can visit the necropoli di Sopraripa – a famous group of tombs, which include the Tomba della Sirena (3rd-2nd century B.C). This beautifully preserved tomb is decorated with a clearly visible Etruscan mythological character known as a scilla or a marine demon with the body of a woman.

And the list goes on.

There are so many different necropolises and vie cave to explore that it’s really up to you to pick your favourites, put on a pair of sturdy hiking boots and start exploring the splendour of the Maremman countryside and its incredible history.

Address: Between San Rocco and Sovana, San Quirico and Vitozza – I know that’s not exactly an address, but there is really no entry point for this park. The best thing to do is pop into the tourist information centre in Sovana and discuss your plans with them.