Sorano is a medieval hill town carved dramatically into the tuff (volcanic ash) stone it sits upon, and overlooking the Lente River, and a really spectacular part of Grosseto, Tuscany.  In Sorano you'll find narrow, maze-like streets in an irregular pattern, alcoves, towers, caves and even an incredible Renaissance castle fortress. Accommodation options in town are quite limited so we've stretched the boundaries and our recommendations for the best places to stay in Sorano include a charming agriturismo outside of town as well as an 11th century fortress conversion within the historic walls.

Sorano is surrounded by fortress walls, and only has two entrances — on one of them you can still see the remains of the drawbridge, which gives a sense of this town’s contested, and oft dramatic history. A visit to its Medieval and Renaissance Museum will paint the full picture for you. Sorano also has a number of beautiful churches, and historic buildings. A short distance outside the walls of the town are a series of incredible tunnels carved into another section of exposed tuff, caves dug out by the Etruscans. 

Our Gurus recommendations for the best places to stay in Sorano make ideal, and affordable bases for exploring this whole part of Italy, and the local thermal baths — of course they have them here, this is a volcanic landscape — make Sorano a wonderful place to come back to after daily explorations around Tuscany, the Maremma region, and into Lazio.

The Best Places to Stay in Sorano

For the Views

• The Hotel della Fortezza has been converted from an 11th Century fortress, with beautiful and commanding views over its hilltop town, and the surrounding region. The hotel has 16 rooms and suites, simply and traditionally decorated, with terracotta tiled floors, beamed ceilings, whitewashed walls and dark wood antiques. It also has an impressive collection of medieval military equipment. More affordable because it’s off the tourist trail, it’s none the less a gorgeous part of the world. There are family suites if you need one, and the restaurant serves Tuscan cuisine.

For a Tuscan Escape

• The Agriturismo Sant'Egle is a charmingly rustic, eco-friendly hotel converted from a farmhouse in the heart of the countryside. Grape vines surround the hotel pool, some of the seven rooms and suites have open fireplaces, and everywhere there are exposed beams and stonework. The restaurant serves produce grown onsite, and there’s a little shop too. They offer natural spa treatments, massage and yoga, and you can borrow a bike and explore. Adults only.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Villa?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Want to fly to Sorano?

• If you’re thinking about flying in to Sorano, you have a few excellent options: Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport is around two hours away by car or taxi, but about six hours by public transport; Florence Airport, Amerigo Vespucci, is also about two hours' drive, and you can get close by rail, but you need to take a taxi for the last leg, all in all it takes about four hours; and Pisa Airport is Tuscany’s largest, so it’s also worth considering, at around two and a half hours away by car or taxi, or three and a half by train and taxi.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Like all of Tuscany, Sorano gets the most visitors during the hot summer months. Many Italians take their summer holidays in August, and Italy’s international guests start arriving at the end of June, and stay through to the end of  August. Tuscany does get very hot though, with many days edging around 30°C in July and August, so if you’re not restricted to travelling during this period, we recommend you consider the shoulder seasons. May through to early June, or September/October will be cooler, with some chance of rain, but still plenty of sunshine, and you won’t face the same crowds going into museums or other attractions, or the same wait for a table in your favourite restaurants. Easter in Italy is always colourful, as is Christmas.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Grosseto
• or even all the best places to stay in Tuscany
• Refine by the type of hotel you’re looking for; the best wine hotels in Tuscany, the best hotels in rural Tuscany or the best family hotels in Tuscany
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.