Orvieto (Umbria): pop. 60,000 [ MAP ] 

Center of  Etruscan origins  preserves valuable works like the Church of St.  Maria Vecchia and the complex  of Castelmaggiore

The Church  of Santa Maria Vecchia is  located in the central square of the village and goes back to the beginnings of the XVII sec.  It is in  Renaissance style with 3 naves interior.  Inside can be found a roman altar dedicated to the divinity Mitra by Tiberio Claudio, emperor Tiberio's son (first half of 1st century bc). It was once used as a baptismal font or as a holy-water font.  on the right wall can be found 14th C fresco of  the  Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, a representation of the Rosary and of a Pope canonized dated 1476. On the same wall is preserved a notable XVII century canvas depicting the Blessed Virgin of the Carmelo. On the opposite wall can be found a XV century representation of Our Lady of the Rosary with St. Dominic and St. Peter martyr opening their mantles to shelter the pious. Further along this wall, on either side of the niche where once stood a notable wooden statue of Our Lady of the Assumption (XV century) stolen in 1982, can be seen the frescoes of two unknown canonized monks. The project of the church is attributed to Ippolito Scalza. 

Not far from the village  the "Castello della Sala" already stronghold of the Monaldeschi Noble Family is easy to reach and worthy of a visit. Ficulle is well-known  for the handicraft production of  "terracotta".  The Last week of April the "Festa di Primavera" (Spring Festival) takes places in the borgo.