Orvieto Overview

A city upon a city, Orvieto (or-vee-YEH-toh; pop. 20,705) was built in layers: medieval edifices rest upon ancient subterranean remains. In the 8th century BC, Etruscans burrowed for tufa (a volcanic stone out of which most of the medieval quarter is built), leaving behind an entire city beneath the ground surface. Six centuries later, Romans sacked and reoccupied the plateau, calling their “new” city, strangely enough, urbus ventus (old city), from which the name Orvieto is derived. Today, the town is a tourist destination made popular by its spectacular underground chambers, distinctly Medieval ambiance, and refreshing Orvieto Classico wine. To escape the crowds, skip the shops on C. Cavour and head to the side streets, where local artisans display their wares.

• Transportation to Orvieto

Situated between Rome and Florence, trains from Orvieto run to Arezzo (1hr., every hr. 7:30am-11:22pm, €6.10), Florence (2hr., every hr. 7:30am-8:33pm, €10.40) via Cortona (45min.), and Rome ...more

• Practical Information

Across from the train station, located in Piazza G. Matteotti, the funicular travels up the hill to Piazza Cahen. From there, Corso Cavour runs slightly uphill from P. Cahen to Piazza della Repubblica ...more

• Accommodations

Grand Hotel Reale, P. del Popolo 27 (☎ 0763 34 12 47; hotelreale@orvietohotels.it). An opulent 13th-century palazzo with old-world flair. Once housed King Umberto. Fine artwork and views of the Palazzo ...more

• Restaurants

Orvieto was once known as Oinarea, or the “city where wine flows.” The stream is still rocking steady. Pair a light bottle of Classico with local treats like baked lumachelle (snail-shaped ...more

• Sights and Activities

 Duomo. Orvieto’s architectural claim to fame, the striped duomo is nothing short of dazzling. Designed in the late 13th century by Sienese architect Lorenzo Maitani, the facade is an ...more

• Festivals

Though nightclubs are virtually nonexistent in Orvieto, the city has no shortage of festival fun. Look for craft fairs, food- and wine-tasting events, antique car shows, and theater and music festivals ...more