The mystery of Tuscan roads carved into stone (18 photos + 1 video)

Hidden in the heart of Southern Tuscany lies a mysterious network of ancient paths that don't simply wind along the slopes, but were carved with incredible precision by hand into the rock.





These corridors, more like narrow canyons, rise to the sky with twenty-meter-high stone walls. Some paths lead to forgotten necropolises and tombs, while others lead directly to the fairytale towns of Sovana, Sorano, and Pitigliano, and from there to the surrounding fields and streams. Chisel marks are visible all over the rock surface, testifying to the titanic labor of the creators. But the true purpose of their work remains forever hidden in the mists of time.



These paths are called Via Cava, meaning "carved roads," but their origin remains shrouded in mystery. Scholars believe they were created by a civilization predating the Romans, possibly the Etruscans, who lived in these lands five centuries before the rise of Rome. But it's possible that the Via Cava is far more ancient than one might think.





The exact purpose of the Via Cava is unknown. Although it is a road network, it remains a mystery why the Etruscans would tunnel through solid rock when they could have built a route overhead or around it. Some researchers see them as giant quarries or a complex system of water conduits, especially since some of the trails do descend from Pitigliano to the river banks.

They may have also served a defensive function, protecting against enemy raids and attacks by wild animals. One researcher has suggested that these trenches could have been used to drop boulders or pour boiling oil on intruders.



During the Roman era, sections of the Via Cava became part of a larger road system connected to the main Via Clodia, which linked Rome and Manciano through Tuscany.

Many of these paths are too narrow for carts, but some still show deep ruts carved into the rock over the years by the iron rims of wheels. Later, small shrines and crucifixes were carved into the stone walls.



Today, these shadowy corridors, where lush garlands of ferns and mosses hang from the walls, have become favorite routes for travelers eager to touch the ancient mystery frozen in stone.







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