What is Orvieto known for?

Gothic cathedral begun 1290, Maitani's polychrome façade and Signorelli's San Brizio Last Judgment of 1499-1504, the cycle Michelangelo studied. Double-helix well of 1527-1537 by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, two spiral ramps so mules going up never met mules coming down. Identified with the seat of the Fanum Voltumnae, federal sanctuary of the Etruscan League, destroyed by Rome in 264 BC.

Orvieto is a comune in the province of Terni, Umbria region of Italy, about 73 kilometers from Terni.

Umbria · Terni

Orvieto

Etruscan Velzna on a 325-meter tufa butte, the medieval refuge of popes and the home of Italy's most decorated Gothic cathedral.

73 km / 45 mi

Nearest hub (Terni)

19,461

Population

Apr–Oct

Best time to visit

Recognised as

Why come

Orvieto sits on a flat-topped butte of volcanic tuff, the cliffs 195 meters above the surrounding plain. The town began as Velzna, a flourishing Etruscan metropolis and seat of the Fanum Voltumnae, the federal sanctuary of the Etruscan League. The Romans destroyed Velzna in 264 BC; the medieval town that replaced it became a papal refuge in the 13th century when popes left Rome for the safer plateau. The Duomo was begun on 14 November 1290 by Pope Nicholas IV, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and Fra Bevignate, then taken over from 1310 by Lorenzo Maitani, who gave it the polychrome marble façade considered the masterpiece of Italian decorative Gothic. Luca Signorelli frescoed the Cappella di San Brizio with the Last Judgment between 1499 and 1504, four years before Michelangelo started the Sistine Chapel. Below the tuff plateau, the Pozzo di San Patrizio was sunk between 1527 and 1537 by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger for Pope Clement VII, two helical ramps so the mules carrying water up never met the ones going down.

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Gallery

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Known for

Duomo di Orvieto
Begun 1290, façade by Lorenzo Maitani from 1310, the masterpiece of Italian decorative Gothic in polychrome marble, mosaics and sculpture.
Cappella di San Brizio
Inside the Duomo, frescoed by Luca Signorelli 1499-1504 with the Last Judgment cycle, four years before Michelangelo began the Sistine ceiling.
Pozzo di San Patrizio
Helical well sunk 1527-1537 by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger for Pope Clement VII, two separate spiral ramps, 53 meters deep.
Orvieto Underground
Etruscan and medieval tunnels, cisterns and pigeon roosts cut into the tuff cliff below the town, over 1,200 cavities mapped to date.
Necropoli del Crocifisso del Tufo
Etruscan necropolis of the 6th century BC at the foot of the cliff, regular grid of stone tombs with inscriptions in Etruscan over the lintels.
Fortezza Albornoz
Papal fortress of 1364 at the edge of the cliff, restored as a public garden with sweeping views over the Paglia valley.

When to visit

Best months · Apr–Oct

Best
Hot or crowded
Quiet
Mostly closed

April through June and September into October are the months for Orvieto. The plateau holds the long light, the Paglia valley below is green or gold, and the white wine of the surrounding vineyards is poured at every osteria. Umbria Jazz Winter runs around New Year and fills the Teatro Mancinelli; the Corpus Domini procession on the second Sunday after Pentecost is the most concentrated religious event of the year. July and August are hot on the plateau but the Duomo and the cellars stay cool. November is truffle season and the new oil. December through March is quiet with reduced opening hours at Orvieto Underground, but the Duomo crypt, the Signorelli chapel and the well of San Patrizio are visited without queues.