Chris & Kelly's Travel Adventures

Several weeks ago when we were returning from a day trip we spotted this magnificent city and decided before we left Tuscany we would find a day to visit.  So welcome to Orvieto. 

Like so many cities in this region it has early Etruscan roots, in fact 1/3rd of the land beneath the city are tunnels and rooms from the Etruscan occupation of this area.

The walls are so steep we parked in the newer city below and rode up the Funiculare (a mountain climbing cable trolley), much easier than hiking! Chris loves the views.

Once at the top we visited St. Patricks Well.  It is unique as it is a 53 meter deep double helix well.  

Then we strolled along the pretty stone streets, passed houses with painted shutters and baskets of flowers everywhere.  It was a quiet fall day, very few tourists.

We only managed to visit one church today (Duomo di Orvieto), but what a unique church.  Started in the late 13th century and finished some 4 centuries later.  The outside is big with black and white stripes made of travertine and basalt.  But the real beauty here is the color...almost if Crayola had a nutty.  The facade is so colorful, it took me a while to realize the reason the color is so bold is because it is done with millions of mosaics...paint would have faded over time.

The interior is also grand, but somehow not overwhelming.  Don't get me wrong you could spend days in there noticing detail after detail...but the extreme height from the barrel vault ceiling makes everything feel spacious.  The main nave is lined with beautiful sculptures of saints, with a Pieta at the front by an artist neither of us had ever heard of- Scalza.  It is carved from a single piece of marble and took him over 8 years to perfect the 4 people in the sculpture.  What a talent.

The altar (back of the main nave) has several scuptures, bright frescoed walls and a gorgeous stained glass window.  The 2 side chapels were equally as impressive, each with vibrant color as if they were recently painted and had very clear panels telling stories.  

We finished the day having lunch in town and then a walk around part of the wall to get pictures of the valley floor below.