Chianti.
Orvieto.
Siena.

- Traveler: The Duomo is Orvieto's crowning glory. Among the finest of Italy's cathedrals, it is visible for miles from the flatlands below the "rupe" (tufa rock). It's facade is resplendent with unequaled luminosity as the setting sun dazzles it's gem-colored mosaics and glowing marble. Covered with a profusion of statues, carvings and intricate columns, the facade of the Duomo is lavish and stands in stark contrast to the immense grandeur of its cool, dark, interior.

- Traveler: Check out the Etruscan Necropolis, just a few minutes outside the city, or St. Patrick's Well, famous for its double helix staircase descending 200ft into the earth.

- Guest: We absolutely loved Villa Belvedere, near Orvieto ! It exceeded all of our expectations. we would absolutely recommend this villa and rent it again if possible. The Owners  are truly wonderful. They were most attentive and provided so much. Their son  is very nice and speaks English. They were most generous and let us a wonderful and delicious dinner at first night. Once again thank you to our gracious hosts for allowing us to stay in their lovely home so immaculate and comfortable. Nicer than any top rated timeshare resort we've stayed in.
 

- Traveler: As you approach Orvieto from the West, you begin to see the city as you do hairpin curves. Orvieto is splendid. The Gothic cathedral is a mosaic delight, brightly lit in the afternoon sun. We drove back up into the hilltop city and followed the signs to the cathedral. All of a sudden, there it was at the end of the vista, down the narrow street. We dumped the car in a parking lot, found a hotel, and then shlepped the suitcases to the Hotel Duomo. We could see the cathedral from our hotel window. Again, the evening strolling and supper were splendid. We ate at a restaurant on the piazza of the Palazzo del Popolo (palace of the people), a quirky, almost deco/functionalist though medieval palace. The next morning, we visited the archeological museum and the chapel decorated by Luca Signorelli. And we climbed down into the Renaissance cistern that was built as a water source in case of a siege. It has a great double spiral staircase so that downward traffic is separated from upward.

- Traveler: On our way to Rome we noticed this amazing little town perched on top of one of the many hill tops we saw along the Autostrada. It looked so spectacular that we all decided to take a detour and stop there on our trip back from Rome heading toward Florence. This breathtakingly positioned walled town is perched on a rock plateau 300 meters above the ground. Precariously balanced on the edge of the cliff, it commands an inspiring view of the local farmhouses, monasteries and vineyards below. After riding the funicular (inclined railway) from the base to the top, it's hard to imagine that hundreds of years ago the only way up was on the back of a donkey or on foot.

Once at the top, you will marvel at the incredible feats of human determination and religious aspiration that created one of Italy’s finest Romanesque –Gothic cathedrals, Il Duomo. Started in 1263 and completed some 200 years later, its spectacular colored facade glistens in the sun along with detailed carvings depicting the Old and New Testament.

To really appreciate the splendor of Orvieto’s location, we meandered further toward the western part of town to the church of San Giovenale , where we were able to see views of the surrounding countryside. The church also, offers its own gifts with beautifully detailed and numerous frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries.

But the mystery of Orvieto continues well below the surface of its rock. The cliff on which the city stands is riddled with a labyrinth of artificial tunnels, galleries, cisterns, quarries and cellars. One such antiquity is Saint Patrick’s Well (Pozzo di san Patrizio) which was built between 1527-1537 to provide the town with a water supply in case of attack. It is famous for it’s double helix (corkscrew) stair case. If you have the stamina, you can walk 60 meters down the well via a 248-step staircase and come back up a separate staircase without retracing your steps.

Orvieto’s locals are also renowned for their art and ceramics, which are as much a part of their heritage as their cathedral. At the beginning of the 6th century, Orvieto’s economic prosperity was largely due to its ceramics and bronze work. Today, Orvieto’s economy is still dependent on tourist demand for it’s pottery. Their hand-painted handicrafts include ceramic plates, bowls, cups even candle stick holders, all made in either traditional or modern designs. Trust me there were loads to choose from. Orvieto, which is seemingly perched far above the everyday world, has in fact so much to offer and is located just a few minutes off of the Autostrada. Whether you are drawn in by the landscape, history or ceramics, Orvieto offers a spectacular stop on your way to or from Rome.