Orvieto Cathedral

Orvieto is a comune and town located in the Umbria region of Italy. The town is located on top of a flat butte which is made from volcanic tuffa stone. The location of the town is one of the most beautiful sites in Europe as it rises from the top of a vertical cliff, surrounded by various medieval walls.

The city has been populated since the Etruscan times and it was a major hub during the time the Etruscans lived in the area. Various artifacts and objects have been found in the region dating back to the Etruscan times which have now been kept in the archeological museum of the town.

Getting to Orvieto

Orvieto can be best reached by trains. The train station is located at the base of the hill. Several trains connect Orvieto everyday to the cities of Florence, Rome and Chiusi. Visitors can also reach the town by bus, the main bus station is located in Piazza Cahen. Several buses connect the town to Viterbo, Bolsena, Perugia, Todi and Rome. Those who have their own car can also drive down to the town. Visitors can take the A1 highway that connects Milan to Rome and reach the town via Florence. After exiting the highway there is a steep road which leads up to the main town, which is spectacular.

Moving Around the Town

There are plenty of ways to explore Orvieto. Visitors can always explore the town on foot since it is very small and there entire town can be covered within a day. There are taxis and public buses operating in the town too. The public buses are quite regular and the tickets are very inexpensive. There is a funicular railway which connects the main railway station to the central piazza of the town and provides beautiful views on the way up. Bicycles and mopeds can be rented at several shops close to the station.

Attractions in Orvieto

Orvieto Cathedral

The Duomo or the cathedral of Orvieto is one of the most important places to visit in the town. The cathedral had been built in the 13th century and then renovated in the 14th and the 20th centuries. The cathedral had been built on the orders of Pope Urban IV. The façade of the cathedral has a large rose window, three large doors and mosaics. Inside the cathedral are two chapels that have beautiful frescoes.

Church of San Giovenale

Orvieto from downhill

The church of San Giovenale is the oldest existing church in the town. The church was originally built in 1004 and it is believed that it was built over the remains of an even older church. Inside the church are many beautiful frescoes that date back to the 13th century. 

Papal Residence

Except for Rome only the towns of Orvieto and Viterbo have Papal Palaces. The first Pope to stay in the Papal Palace of Orvieto was Adrian IV in the 12th century.

Etruscan Ruins

Orvieto had been inhabited since Etruscan times and several remains dating back to that time still exist in the town. The wall that had been built around the town during the Etruscan times still exists in the town. The necropolis of the Etruscans is located at the foot of the hill and is surrounded by beautiful vineyard and orchards. The necropolis has more than hundred chamber tombs.

Underground City

One of the most fascinating places to visit in Orvieto is the underground city. For centuries there has been a maze of underground tunnels and caves which have been kept hidden. This underground city can only be visited through guided tours. Inside are several hidden rooms, galleries, tunnels, stairs that have been created over several centuries. In the olden times the homes of several noble families were connected to this underground city through tunnels for escaping.

Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo

Orvieto

Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo is an imposing grand building. The palace had been constructed in the 13th century. Originally it was a small loggia which was used for commercial activities or for meetings. Over the years it was then expanded to its current form. 

Stay and Accommodation

Orvieto has several accommodation options since it does attract tourists from the region all through the year. Many tourists from the Umbria region visit the town every year so there are quite a lot of good hotels and bed and breakfasts in the city. Some of the best known hotels in Orvieto are Hotel Duomo Srl, Hotel Corso, Hotel La Badia, Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini Di Ago Srl, Albergo Hotel Valentino, Hotel Villa Ciconia and Albergo Hotel Maitani. There are also a few villas and apartments in the town which can be rented by visitors if they plan to stay longer in the town.

Eating in Orvieto

There are plenty of good places to choose from in terms of eating out in Orvieto. The town has many good restaurants, trattorias and pizzerias to choose from. Most restaurants in town serve local dishes which have been made from fresh local ingredients. There are also a few good cafes and taverns in the town where visitors would find a good wine list to select from. Some of the best places to try in Orvieto are ristoranti Al San Giovenale, Maurizio Al Duomo, trattoria del Moro Aronne, trattoria La Volpe and L'Uva Di Brozzi Maria Gina and ristorante I Sette Consoli Di Stopponi Mauro.

Shopping in Orvieto

Orvieto street

There are a few good places in Orvieto where visitors can shop. The historic center of the town has many good shops where visitors can purchase pottery, handicrafts, wooden artifacts and souvenirs. The weekly open market of the town also is a good experience since they are still quite traditional in nature. Visitors can also purchase good wines produced in the region from the wine shops in Orvieto. The food shops and grocers in Orvieto have good varieties of local cheeses as well as extra virgin olive oil and many types of traditional pastries.