Orvieto

<< Umbria

Orvieto is a town in the Province of Terni, located on top of an isolated volcanic hill with steep cliffs. Originally an important Etruscan city, it later became a Roman town, and in the Late Middle Ages it was a powerful comune. After centuries of conflicts, the city became part of the Papal States and eventually Italy. Orvieto is now a tourist destination thanks to its many historic attractions and artistic masterpieces, and is especially known for its Gothic cathedral.

✪ Orvieto Cathedral

The Orvieto Cathedral (Duomo di Orvieto) is the main church of Orvieto, and one of the greatest masterpieces of Gothic architecture in Italy. Built starting in 1290, the church was initially designed in Romanesque style, but the project was later changed with the addition of Gothic elements. The striking facade of the church features various large mosaics, and it is adorned with extremely elaborate reliefs, sculptures, and a large rose window. The interior is decorated with black and white stripes and features numerous paintings, frescoes, statues, and other artworks. Among the various richly frescoed chapels inside the cathedral, the most notable is the Chapel of San Brizio (Cappella di San Brizio), which hosts a huge series of Renaissance frescoes painted by Fra Angelico, Benozzo Gozzoli, and Luca Signorelli, regarded as one of the greatest works of art of its time.

✪ Pozzo di San Patrizio

The Pozzo di San Patrizio is a well built in the 16th century at the eastern edge of Orvieto, and a great work of Renaissance engineering. The cylindrical well is around 54 meters deep and features two separate one-way helical ramps. A terrace outside the well offers a great view on the surrounding region. The structure is located in the park next to the Albornoz Fortress (Fortezza Albornoz), a fort built in the 14th century. The gardens also host the ruins of the Etruscan Temple of Belvedere (Tempio del Belvedere).

National Archaeological Museum of Orvieto

The National Archaeological Museum of Orvieto (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Orvieto) is an archaeological museum hosted in the former papal residence adjacent to the Orvieto Cathedral. The museum features a large collection of ancient finds, mostly from the Etruscan age.

Palazzo Soliano

Palazzo Soliano is a medieval palace located next to the Orvieto Cathedral. The lower floor of the palace houses the Emilio Greco Museum (Museo Emilio Greco), a collection of sculptures and drawings by 20th-century artist Emilio Greco. The upper floor instead hosts the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Orvieto, a rich museum mostly housing religious artworks dating from the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Orvieto Underground

A long series of tunnels run underneath Orvieto, and can be visited as part of the so-called Orvieto Underground (Orvieto Sotterranea). The tunnels have been excavated in the volcanic tuff under the city for millennia, with some dating from the Etruscan age, and have been used for various purposes, such as shelter and wells.

Faina Museum

The Faina Museum (Museo Faina) is an archaeological museum located in front of the Orvieto Cathedral. The museum houses a large collection of Etruscan artworks and objects, including various finds unearthed in the ancient necropolises around the town.

Torre del Moro

Torre del Moro is a tall clock tower erected in Orvieto during the Late Middle Ages. The top of the tower offers a great panoramic view over the city and the surrounding countryside.

Church of Sant’Andrea

The Church of Sant’Andrea is a historic church in the center of Orvieto, adjacent to the town hall. Built in Romanesque style during the Late Middle Ages, it is known for featuring a peculiar decagonal bell tower.

Church of San Giovenale

The Church of San Giovenale is a Romanesque church located at the western end of Orvieto. The church was built in the 11th century and hosts various ancient artworks, including some frescoes painted in the Late Middle Ages. A panoramic terrace in front of the church offers a great view on the hills around the town.

Church of San Domenico

The Church of San Domenico is a church in Orvieto built starting in the 13th century, one of the oldest of the Dominican Order. The building features Gothic decorations and hosts an elaborate 13th-century funerary monument made by Arnolfo di Cambio, among other artworks.