A Day Trip to Orvieto from Rome, Orvieto, Italy

A note to my readers: The world is still dealing with Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, and it will be a long time before we can travel freely again. For many of us that will mean staycations and more local travel, but I will continue posting new content about Italy for you to read at home and to inspire your future travels. Happy reading and stay safe!

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If you are looking for an excursion from Rome, why not try a day trip to Orvieto? This is a classic Italian hill town in the southwest of Umbria. Visit for the scenic location, medieval quarter and artisan shops. And don’t miss the historic cathedral - or its miraculous relic.

Umbria is full of medieval hill towns, but Orvieto is the most accessible from Rome. Sitting on top of a tall volcanic rock, it was originally an Etruscan settlement, and later a fortress. The walls surrounding the fortress still remain, and provide several vantage points from which to appreciate the spectacular views of the Umbrian countryside.

Outside the walls (close to Piazza Cahen) you will find the remains of the Temple of Belvedere, an old Etruscan temple from the 5th or 6th century BCE. Nearby is the Pozzo di San Patrizio (St Patrick’s Well), built in the 16th century to allow the town to survive in the event of siege. The remarkable thing about this well is that it has two stairways to the very bottom, designed to allow people (and animals) to descend and collect the water. Today visitors can follow in their footsteps and climb the 496 steps to the depths of the well. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).