A Guide to Perugia

Orvieto is found in the south eastern corner of Umbria and was built on a volcanic rock by the Etruscans. The most famous attraction of Orvieto is the splendid, black and white, gothic cathedral which houses the admired frescoes of Luca Signorelli. To discover the ancient Etruscan underground rooms with their deep wells you can take one of the underground tours, which cover the Pozzo della Cava, the Pozzo di San Patrizio, the Necropoli of the clay Crucifix and the Mancinelli theatre.

There are many caves in the area which have been used by civilizations for a range of purposes and visiting these adds to your understanding of the lengthy history of Orvieto. A tour around the edge of the town offers fantastic views over the surrounding countryside. There are plenty of restaurants where you can enjoy local specialties such as truffles, and of course the wine Orvieto Classico.

Many of the buildings in Orvieto date from the 13th to 16th century and include the following sites: the cathedral, Palazzo dei Sette, Palazzo del capitano del Popolo, the church of St Giovenale, Palazzo Soliano, the Church of St Andrea, the Church of St Domenico, Museum Opera del Duomo and the Museum of Modern Art