Orvieto and its origins
Orvieto is a small village in Umbria resting on a tuff cliff and has a very ancient history.
The origins of Orvieto date back to very distant times, when the territory was a large expanse of water which, over the years, saw emerging lands emerge from the sea. In these emerged lands, in turn, various volcanic systems developed which probably gave life to the cliff on which the city of Orvieto resides today. It has been hypothesized that the flows produced by the volcanic complex of Bolsena gave life to the tuff soil on which the city rests today. Volcanic activity, at the time, also gave life to Lake Bolsena.
Facade of the Cathedral of Orvieto - Photo by Peter H from Pixabay
What to see
The city of Orvieto, a small treasure trove of art, is famous above all for the Duomo , a masterpiece of Italian Gothic art. 20 artists worked on the Duomo over 3 centuries, but despite this, the structure appears harmonious and balanced. Construction began in 1290 at the behest of Pope Nicholas IV, to arrange the Corporal of the Bolsena miracle and continued until the second half of the 1500s. Admiring the Duomo from below, it is possible to see the bas-reliefs representing Stories from the Old and New Testament and the Judgment the final. At the center there is the rose window with mosaics, which are very different from the original ones. Inside there are two chapels: the Chapel of the Corporal and that of San Brizio.
The Chapel of San Brizio (or Cappella Nova), present in the Cathedral of Orvieto, is a true masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. The first to work on it were Beato Angelico and Benozzo Gozzoli, who frescoed most of the ceilings with the cycle of frescoes "Stories of the last days", even if the chapel was subsequently completed by Luca Signorelli. In the chapel the Last Judgment is represented and, among the most suggestive representations, there are the Preaching of the Antichrist, the Resurrection of the flesh, the defeat of the Demon by San Michele, the ascent to Paradise and the Damned to hell.
Well of St. Patrick - Orvieto
St. Patrick's Well
The well of St. Patrick was built by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, by order of Pope Clement VII, between 1527 and 1537. The Pope, once he returned from the sack of Rome, wanted to protect himself in case of siege. The well took this name because it resembled the cavity where the Irish saint retired in prayer. It is thanks to this atmosphere of sacredness, that tourists throw in coins, hoping to return to the place. The well is 62 meters deep and has two helical staircases, one for the descent and one for the ascent.
Near the well, there is the Belvedere temple. The temple was discovered by chance in 1828, while the works for the construction of a road were carried out and, probably, it dates back to the beginning of the fifth century BC. It is an ancient Etruscan temple and today the plan, the access stairway and some parts are visible of the foundations.
Museum at the work of the Duomo-i Orvieto - photo by Luca Aless from it.wikipedia.org
Mancinelli Theater
The Mancinelli Theater was built by Giuseppe Santini and has a neoclassical structure. It was inaugurated in 1863 and takes its name from the Musician Mancinelli, the first to stage the work "Favorita e Marte".
Piazza del Popolo has been and still is the place of civil life in Orvieto. The palace of the Captain of the People stands out in the square, with its tower and the staircase leading to the entrance hall. Today the palace hosts both events and events. To visit is the Salone del Quattrocento, where once the members who ruled the city met.
The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo , is a museum made up of 4 small spaces, including the Chapel of San Brizio, the Church of Sant'Agostino and the Libreria Albèri. The museum houses works from various periods, from the 13th century onwards, such as the majesty of the Servi di Coppo by Marcovaldo and the Maddalena by Luca Signorelli.
Torre del Moro - Orvieto
Torre del Moro
The Torre del Moro, initially called Torre del Papa, took its current name perhaps in relation to Raffaele di Sante called “il Moro”, or perhaps because the Moor was hung on the tower during the Saracen joust. Currently it is possible to visit the tower internally and reaching its highest part, it is also possible to enjoy the view over the city. Near the Tower, there is also the Palazzo dei Sette, so defined because in the Middle Ages it housed the seven magistrates who represented the city, while today the palace is home to exhibitions and events.
Starting from 1359 the construction of the Albornoz Fortress began, which was disputed for centuries by the dominant families. It was destroyed several times and rebuilt, definitively, in 1450, under the papal rule.
Orvieto Sotterranea - Main Gallery - photo by D.benedetti from it.wikipedia.org/
The dungeons
Of Orvieto is not only beautiful the surface, in fact below the city, there is a labyrinth that has been excavated over 2500 years formed by 1200 caves, tunnels, wells and cisterns , which were discovered following a landslide. To date, it is possible to visit the labyrinth, thanks to the Orvieto Underground project. The Shrine and Necropolis of Cannicella is located within the Orvieto environmental archaeological park, in an area rich in vegetation, plants and reed beds (from which the necropolis took the name of Cannicella). In this area there are Etruscan tombs and the remains of an Etruscan sanctuary. Hadrian's labyrinth was discovered in the 1970s by Adriano and Rita, owners of a historic pastry shop, during renovation work. Inside there are numerous historical evidences, among which the volcanic stratifications, where it is possible to find a petrified vegetal fossil that has about 250 thousand years.
Orvieto - Church of Sant'Andrea
Church of Sant'Andrea
In Republic Square is the Church of Sant'Andrea with its underground admire beautiful testifying 4 different developmental stages, including the first one is placed to the Bronze Age, then there is the Etruscan period, whose remains are visible of ancient road paving, the Roman period of which very little is left, while the last phase, testifies the birth of the first Christian community in Orvieto. The church has undergone many architectural changes over time. Today it has a beautiful facade flanked by a dodecagonal tower and an elegant loggia. Inside there is a beautiful Cosmatesque pulpit, a tomb kiosk and the remains of frescoes with works dating back to the 1300s, the 1600s and the end of the 1800s.
Entertainment
Orvieto is a quiet city and in the historic center you can find wine bars, cocktail bars, pubs and a few bars, where you can spend an evening of relaxation and fun. Nightlife is suitable for those who like to spend an evening with a glass of wine, perhaps accompanied by background music.
Behind the spiers of the Duomo is the Champagneria and, inside, you can enjoy various types of cocktails (including Champagne), while walking through the main streets of Orvieto, you will find the Caffè Clandestino, which offers various types of appetizers, including which also includes international snacks. At Vincicaffé, near Piazza della Repubblica, you can spend a relaxing evening, while at the Mille300 Music & Drinks, a place born in a deconsecrated church, you can sip a drink in a special and elegant environment. If you don't know where to eat, we have typical restaurants to recommend you, including Al Mercato Osteria, Osteria del Grillo, Restaurant at the Pozzo Etrusco da Giovanni, Il Malandrino, Da Gregorio and many other atriums. For the clubbers, there are two clubs, near the center: the Moody and the Elite Discotheque.
Climate, curiosity and advice
Climate: Orvieto has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Even if the climate allows the tourist to visit it during any season of the year, the best period goes from February / March to October.
Curiosity: the Orvieto dialect is inspired in part by Umbrian, Tuscan and Lazio. The dialect draws from the Roman but is enriched with terms of the Tuscan dialects. For those wishing to investigate its linguistic history, there is the "Italian Orvieto Dictionary".
Tips: if you are in the area, go and visit Civita di Bagnoreggio, a delightful village also called "the dying city", where few inhabitants currently live.
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