Sovana

Sovana
Frazione
The main square in Sovana
Sovana Location of Sovana in Italy
Coordinates: 42°39′25″N 11°38′40″E / 42.65694°N 11.64444°E / 42.65694; 11.64444Coordinates: 42°39′25″N 11°38′40″E / 42.65694°N 11.64444°E / 42.65694; 11.64444
Country	Italy
Region	Tuscany
Province	Grosseto (GR)
Comune	Sorano
Elevation	291 m (955 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	122
Demonym(s)	Sovanesi, Soanesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	58010
Dialing code	(+39) 0564

Sovana is a small town in southern Tuscany, Italy, a frazione of Sorano, a comune in the province of Grosseto.

Etruscan by origin, Sovana became a Roman municipium, and, from the 5th century, an episcopal see. Conquered by Lombards in 592-605, it was chosen as their administrative center in the area. Later, when Roselle was abandoned due to Saracen ravages, it became the centre of the county under the Aldobrandeschi family. In the Middle Ages it was known as Soana.

Its importance declined when the county was acquired by the Orsini, who moved the capital to Pitigliano. In the mid-16th century Sovana was annexed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by Cosimo I de' Medici.

Pope Gregory VII (Ildebrando di Soana) was born here.