11 Sights to See in the Clifftop City of Orvieto, Italy, Orvieto, Italy (B)

During my short winter trip through Italy in January, the city of Orvieto was the only one destination I knew I wanted to see from the outset. Another majestic destination in Umbria, I was thrilled by the concept of visiting another mostly overlooked spot. Sometimes overlooked places are overlooked for a reason, but that definitely isn’t true for Orvieto. The city has an essence that is shared with many of Italy’s best destinations.

Best of all, it’s only an hour on the train from the Italian capital, making it a perfect day trip from Rome. If you choose to stay in Orvieto, you can also easily use it as a base to visit Civita di Bagnoregio, as I did. I’m going to show you why Orvieto should be on your radar and all its sights to see. Hopefully after, you’ll be adding another stop on your next Italian holiday. 

What makes Orvieto so striking initially is that it sits atop imposing cliffs on all sides. As if the natural barriers weren’t enough it’s surrounded by great big stone fortifications that make it seem wholly inaccessible. In a moment I’ll talk about the fortress but for now I want to share actually reaching Orvieto’s old town. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).