Orvieto has a “city within a city,” an ancient and fascinating soul that unfolds beneath its squares and charming medieval alleys. It is its underground dimension: a truly hidden universe created by nature and shaped by human intervention over time.
Orvieto boasts numerous underground cavities carved into the tuff rock. Nearly every house in the city has its own underground space used as a cellar or storage room. Often, these spaces have ancient origins and have sometimes been reorganized based on previous excavations. To truly understand and experience this hidden side of Orvieto, simply visit one of the four main sites open to the public.
The largest is Orvieto Underground with its large caves and tunnels; then there are the Pozzo della Cava underground tunnels in the medieval quarter; the Labirinto di Adriano, an incredible mix between ancient and modern ; and finally, the basement of the Church of Sant’Andrea, where remains and structures from various eras are clearly visible.
