ABOUT: Orvieto was founded in the 9th century BC by the Etruscans, conquered by the Romans in 294 BC, which caused a significant decline of this village.  It was revived during 1000 and the 14th century and enjoyed being a papal favorite between the 14th and 19th centuries.  The medieval town seems to have a lot – a glorious cathedral, a striking clock tower, and an ornately decorated theatre are some of the main sights.  As you explore further, you realize it has even more, because its side streets are filled with local gems like the ceramics on display, for both sale and decoration.

WHAT TO DO: The hillside setting offers beautiful vistas from the fortifications and quite a few Etruscan ruins for the history buffs. If you are looking for just one town in Umbria to see a mixture of sights and local life, this is a great one to pick.  Here is a brief list of the highlights:

·       San Giovenale church – The entire downtown area of Orvieto is filled with numerous churches of different architectural styles and sizes and that were built at various points in history. The oldest one is San Giovenale, whose construction dates to 1004. Situated in a Medieval quarter (Quartiere Medievale), San Giovenale remains almost unchanged over the centuries.

·       San Francesco church – San Francesco was built on top of the remains of an Etruscan temple in 1240. It stands at the highest point of the cliff of Orvieto. San Francesco is an impressive church that has great importance to the history of Orvieto. The most notable point in this church’s history was in 1297 when the canonization by Pope Boniface VIII of King Louis IX of France was held there.

·       Sant’Andrea church – Sant’Andrea is located in Piazza della Repubblica next to the Town Hall. This is a beautiful church with a twelve-sided tower linked to the Palazzo Comunale.

The origins of Orvieto and the volcanic materials that composed the tufa plateau allowed to the citizens to easily dig the soil creating caves, cellars, and intricate underground passages.  In modern times some of these underground sites have become tourist attractions and spectacular places to visit. The most important underground sites are:

·       Orvieto Underground – Take a one hour guided tour of the Etruscan underground caves and paths that are over 2500 years old.

·      Pozzo della Cava – This underground spot is located in the heart of the old medieval quarter of Orvieto is Pozzo della Cava. Self-guided and guided tours are available of this impressive hand-dug Etruscan Well. There are many palaces belonging to noble families that grace the city of Orvieto

WHAT TO EAT: Old traditions are still prevalent in modern Orvietan recipes, which are always enhanced popular local wines.  The meat has always been of considerable importance in the Orvieto kitchen. Pork is one of the most popular meats, and used it many recipes: prosciutto, sausages, mazzafegati for example. Poultry, rabbit and game animals are also widely used. Pigeon and dove are among the most classic dishes that can be tasted in Orvieto. The “palomba alla leccarda” and the “pollo alla cacciatore” are two of the oldest and most typical dishes of the city.  There are many recommendations for dining here, just to name a few are Trattoria del Moro Aronne, https://www.trattoriadelmoro.info/, Trattoria la Palomba , (no website, but open for lunch and dinner), and Osteria da Mamma Angela, https://www.osteriadamammaangela.com/.