Never Forget Orvieto When in Europe

If you happen to find yourself on a train, heading north from Rome, you will notice an old Medieval city, dramatically perched high above on a vertical cliff, right next the train track.  It is amazing and you feel like you have to get off the train and see what it is.  It is Orvieto, and it is a popular tourist stop in the Umbria region of Italy, close to Tuscany. 

You can get to this charming city easily from Roma Termini.  Just hop on any train that's heading north towards Milan: it's only a little over an hour from Rome.  The funicular that takes you up the 325 meter cliff is located just outside of the Orvieto train station: how convenient!

Because the volcanic bluff has been inhabited for so long, the sights and monuments in Orvieto represent thousands of years of history.  The first city was built on this high bluff by the Etruscans and was considered to be impregnable.  Incidentally there is an archaeological museum called the Museo Claudio Faina e Museo Civico that displays Etruscan artifacts.

Orvieto's spectacular Duomo, or cathedral, is a must-see: with its beautiful mosaic facade, it is one of the finest and most important medieval cathedrals in Italy.  The exterior mosaics and the fantastic frescoes inside are said to have influenced Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel in Rome.

There are plenty of other interesting sights in Orvieto, and it's fun just to wander around.  Near the top of the funicular, you will find St. Patrick's Well which supplied water to the city during times of war.  Nearby is the Tempio del Belvedere, which is an Etruscan temple.  Some other sights you'll likely stumble upon are Orvieto's oldest church, San Giovenale; the Piazza del Popolo; La Cava, an Etruscan well; and the delightful Medieval quarter.  And don't miss the 14th century Albornoz Fortress with its promenade that surrounds the city.

There is also something very interesting to see underground: the Etruscan tunnels.  The Etruscans carved this fascinating labyrinth of tunnels into the volcanic rock 3,000 years ago.  The tunnels were built as escape routes for the wealthy, and here you will see huge rooms, cisterns, and staircases.  Today the tunnels are known as Underground Orvieto.

Back above ground, you will find plenty of shops and restaurants, especially on the Corso Cavour, the main street in Orvieto.  Just off Corso Cavour you will find Trattoria del Moro, where you can try some of the specialties of the Umbria region, like boar and truffles.

See and  check how World Ventures can change your life!