Sorano

Last updated
Sorano
Comune di Sorano
Sorano z01.jpg
Sorano-Stemma.png
Location of Sorano
Sorano
Italy provincial location map 2016.svg
Red pog.svg
Sorano
Location of Sorano in Italy
Italy Tuscany location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sorano
Sorano (Tuscany)
Coordinates: 42°40′55″N11°42′54″E / 42.68194°N 11.71500°E / 42.68194; 11.71500
Country Italy
Region Tuscany
Province Grosseto (GR)
Frazioni Castell'Ottieri, Cerreto, Elmo, Montebuono, Montevitozzo, Montorio, San Giovanni delle Contee, San Quirico, San Valentino, Sovana
Government
  MayorPierandrea Vanni
Area
[1]
  Total
174.56 km2 (67.40 sq mi)
Elevation
379 m (1,243 ft)
Population
 (1 January 2022) [2]
  Total
3,091
  Density18/km2 (46/sq mi)
Demonym Soranesi
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
58043
Patron saintSt. Nicholas
Saint dayDecember 6
Website Official website

Sorano is a town and comune in the province of Grosseto, in southern Tuscany, Italy. It is an ancient medieval hill town perched on a tuff outcrop overlooking the Lente River.

Contents

History

A view of Sorano Sorano.JPG
A view of Sorano

Sorano was probably inhabited by the Villanovan culture, but the first historical records date to the 3rd century BC, when it was an Etruscan city under the influence of the nearby and more populous Sovana.

Little is known about its history during the Roman period, but Sorano reappears in historical records in 862, when a county was founded by Emperor Louis II under the suzerainty of the Aldobrandeschi family. The Aldobrandeschi were among the most powerful feudal lords in southern Tuscany for more than four centuries, until 1312, when Margherita, daughter of Ildibrandino, died without male heirs. Her daughter Adelaide married Romano di Gentile of the Orsini family, who incorporated Sorano into the Orsini domains.

The County of Pitigliano and Sorano fought against the Republic of Siena, but was forced to accept its suzerainty from 1417. It regained full independence in 1556, after Siena was annexed to the Duchy of Tuscany. Due to its strategic position, the fortress was frequently attacked, and it also became the scene of fratricidal conflicts within the Orsini family. In 1604, following the death of Alessandro di Bertoldo, Sorano became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

It was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.

Frazioni

The municipality is formed by the municipal seat of Sorano and the villages ( frazioni ) of Castell'Ottieri, Cerreto, Elmo, Montebuono, Montevitozzo, Montorio, San Giovanni delle Contee, San Quirico, San Valentino and Sovana.

Culture

Comedian Jack Benny mentions Sorano in a running gag on both the radio and television versions of The Jack Benny Program , in which Jack has written a song entitled “When You Say 'I Beg Your Pardon,' Then I’ll Come Back to You.” [3] In the gag, each time Jack reaches the lyric “when the swallows at Sorano return to Capistrano,” the song is interrupted by a cast member or guest star questioning how a swallow could possibly fly all the way from Italy to California. [4] [5] [6]

Main sights

Another castle is in the frazione of Sovana.

See also

References

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. Leff(Leibowitz), Laura; Gostanian, Martin (2011). 39 Forever, Second Edition, Volume 3: Television. International Jack Benny Fan Club. ISBN   978-0965189385, p. 40.
  4. "Re: "When You Say I Beg Your Pardon..."".
  5. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "When You Say I Beg Your Pardon Part 1". YouTube .
  6. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "JACK BENNY TV SHOW 23 10 1962 with LAWRENCE WELK". YouTube .