Fort Orsini Mediaeval and Renaissance Museum - Sorano - La regione dei Tufi

Address

Piazza Cairoli, 3 - Sorano

Museum

The museum occupies some of the quarters of the fourteenth-century fortress and exhibits mediaeval and renaissance ceramics from around the local area recovered within the so-called “butti medievali”, or “medieval dumps”. Inside the museum, of particular interest is a small room located in an octagonal tower full of fifth-century frescoes (in grotesque style). On the side walls of this room you can also admire two mythological scenes and there is also a painted musical score of a madrigal for four voices. It is said that this was Count Niccolò IV Orsini’s private room for entertaining young maidens. From the ticket office of the Museum start guided tours of the Orsini Fortress, in order to discover this important example of Renaissance military architecture. The sixteenth century part of the fortress consists in a central keep and two corner bastions, named St. Peter and St. Mark. These buildings were interconnected by external and internal walkways, visitable today, with strategic weaponry points. Along the way are many ventilation shafts for underground areas to rid the air of toxic gases from gunpowder. While visiting the underground areas a light jacket is recommended.

Activities

Guided Tours

Bookshop

Yes

Accessibility disabled

Partially accessible

Schedule

MARCH
Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm and from 3 to 6 pm
(Guided tours of the Walkways at 10 am and 3 pm)

FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER
Every day from 10 am to 12 <m and from 4 to 7 pm
Closing day: Monday (except public holidays and August)
(Guided tours of the Walkways at 12 am, 3 pm and 6 pm)

FROM OCTOBER TO ALL SAINTS' DAY
Every day from 10 am to 12 am and from 4 to 6 pm
Closing day: Monday
(Guided tours of the Walkways at 12 am and 3 pm)

NOVEMBER
Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 12 am and from 2 to 5 pm
(Guided tours of the Walkways at 12 am and 3 pm)

DECEMBER
Holiday weekend of the Immaculate Conception (7-8) and Christmas Holiday period (21-23; from 26 to 31) from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 to 5 pm
CLOSED: 24, 25.
(Guided tours of the Walkways at 12 am and 2 pm)

Price

Museum and Fort Orsini: € 5,00 full ticket; € 3,00 reduced ticket;

The € 10,00 ticket includes entrance to the "City of the Tuff" Archaeological Park, the Museum of the Middle Ages with Fort Orsini and the Sovana Museum Complex with the Museum of San Mamiliano.