ORVIETO
DISCOVER THE CITY
A hospitable city that recounts centuries of history, the capital of the Etruscan Dodecapolis, the city of Corpus Christi, and a powerful medieval commune. Its squares and charming streets conceal monuments, palaces, and attractions to see and discover.
One of the most beautiful cathedrals in Italy
Just steps from the hotel, in Piazza Duomo stands the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, known simply as the Duomo of Orvieto. One of the city’s most beautiful monuments, built in 1290 in Roman Gothic style, its main façade is breathtaking with its magnificent bas-reliefs and numerous mosaics. Inside, the famous goldsmith’s masterpiece, the Corporal Reliquary, is housed, as well as Luca Signorelli’s frescoes depicting scenes from the Last Judgement in the Cappella Nova (San Brizio).
Wells, caves and labyrinths
While Orvieto’s historic center captivates with its churches and palaces, its underground soul is equally captivating: a hidden city that extends for kilometers underground and can be partially visited through numerous sites and attractions. Among these, the most famous is St. Patrick’s Well. This magical well and the Pozzo della Cava represent two examples of human engineering from the Etruscan to the Renaissance era. Other underground sites of great interest include the Orvieto Underground caves, the cellars of the Church of Sant’Andrea, and the Labirinto di Adriano.
Towers and Palaces of the Medieval Era
Opposite the underground, in Orvieto’s historic center, we find palaces and towers that reach skyward and characterize the city’s skyline. The two most important medieval buildings are the Palazzo Comunale and the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo. Both are symbols of medieval Orvieto, along with its towers, the most notable of which is the Moro Tower, which can be visited and offers a splendid view of the city from its terrace.
Orvieto "Caput Etruriae"
Going back in time, before the modern era, before the flourishing medieval period, we arrive at the Etruscan civilization, of which Orvieto was the capital and a very important city. From the Etruscan era are the remains of the Temple of Belvedere and the Necropolis of the Crocifisso del Tufo. If you want to experience and see the great finds from this era firsthand, visit the Civic-Faina and Archaeological Museums, both located in Piazza Duomo (where the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and the Museum of Modern Art are also located).
What to see around Orvieto
The large Orvieto area includes numerous small Umbrian villages worth visiting, including Baschi, Montecchio, Allerona, and other nearby towns on the border between Lazio and Tuscany. In Lazio, 20 km from Orvieto, you’ll find the village of Civita di Bagnoregio, Bomarzo with its famous “Monster Park,” and Bolsena with its large lake. In southern Tuscany, the “tuff towns” of Pitigliano, Sovana, and Sorano, as well as the natural hot springs of Saturnia, are also nearby.
