Southern Umbria
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Southern Umbria - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Duomo di Orvieto
Orvieto's stunning cathedral was built to commemorate the Miracle at Bolsena. In 1263, a young priest who questioned the miracle of transubstantiation (in which the Communion bread and wine become the flesh and blood of Christ) was saying Mass at nearby Lago di Bolsena. A wafer he had just blessed suddenly started to drip blood, staining the linen covering the altar. Thirty years later, construction began on a duomo in Orvieto to celebrate the miracle and house the stained altar cloth. The cathedral's interior is rather vast and empty; the major works are in the transepts. To the left is the Cappella del Corporale, where the square linen cloth (corporale) is kept in a golden reliquary that's modeled on the cathedral and inlaid with enamel scenes of the miracle. In the right transept is the Cappella di San Brizio, which holds one of Italy's greatest fresco cycles, notable for its influence on Michelangelo's Last Judgment, as well as for the extraordinary beauty of the figuration. In these works, a few by Fra Angelico and most by Luca Signorelli, the damned fall to hell, demons breathe fire and blood, and Christians are martyred. The Museo dell'Opera dell Duomo next to the cathedral is worth a short visit to see its small collection of historical paintings and sculptures.
Piazza del Duomo, Orvieto, Umbria, 05018, Italy0763-342477Sight Details
Rate Includes: €5, including Cappella di San Brizio and Museo dell\'Opera dell Duomo; included with Carta Unica -
2. Piano Grande
A spectacular mountain plain 25 km (15 miles) to the northeast of the valley, Piano Grande is a hang glider's paradise and a wonderful place for a picnic or to fly a kite. It's also nationally famous for the quality of the lentils grown here, which are a traditional part of every Italian New Year's feast.
Piano Grande, Teramo, Umbria, 64010, ItalySight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
3. Cascata delle Marmore
The road east of Terni (SS3 Valnerina) leads 10 km (6 miles) to the Cascata delle Marmore (Waterfalls of Marmore), which, at 541 feet, are the highest in Europe. A canal was dug by the Romans in the 3rd century BC to prevent flooding in the nearby agricultural plains. Nowadays, the waters are often diverted to provide hydroelectric power for Terni, reducing the roaring falls to an unimpressive trickle, so check with the information office at the falls (there's a timetable on its website) or with Terni's tourist office before heading here. On summer evenings, when the falls are in full spate, the cascading water is floodlit to striking effect. The falls are usually at their most energetic at midday and at around 4 pm. This is a good place for hiking, except in December and January, when most trails may be closed.
View Tours and ActivitiesSP79, Terni, Umbria, 05100, Italy0744-67561Sight Details
Rate Includes: €12 -
4. Duomo di Todi
One end of the Piazza del Popolo is dominated by this 12th-century Romanesque-Gothic masterpiece, built over the site of a Roman temple. The simple facade is enlivened by a finely carved rose window. Look up at that window as you step inside and you'll notice its peculiarity: each "petal" of the rose has a cherub's face in the stained glass. Also take a close look at the capitals of the double columns with pilasters: perched between the acanthus leaves are charming medieval sculptures of saints—Peter with his keys, George and the dragon, and so on. You can see the rich brown tones of the wooden choir near the altar, but unless you have binoculars or request special permission in advance, you can't get close enough to see all the exquisite detail in this Renaissance masterpiece of woodworking (1521–30). The severe, solid mass of the Duomo is mirrored by the Palazzo dei Priori (1595–97) across the way.
Piazza del Popolo 1, Todi, Umbria, 06059, Italy335-5420520Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon. -
5. Museo Etrusco Claudio Faina
This superb private collection, beautifully arranged and presented, goes far beyond the usual smattering of local remains displayed at many museums. The collection is particularly rich in Greek- and Etruscan-era pottery, from large Attic amphorae (6th–4th century BC) to Attic black- and red-figure pieces to Etruscan bucchero (dark-reddish clay) vases. Other interesting items include a 6th-century sarcophagus and a substantial display of Roman-era coins.
Piazza del Duomo 29, Orvieto, Umbria, 05018, Italy0763-341216Sight Details
Rate Includes: €6, Closed Tues. -
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6. Norcia
The birthplace of St. Benedict, Norcia is best known for its Umbrian pork and truffles, which you can sample at shops throughout town. Norcia exports truffles to France and hosts a truffle festival, Nero Norcia, every February. Though the town itself is still under reconstruction following a devastating 2016 earthquake, the surrounding mountains provide spectacular hiking.
42 km (25 miles) east of Spoleto, 67 km (42 miles) northeast of Terni, Umbria, 06046, Italy -
7. Orvieto Underground
More than just about any other town, Orvieto has grown from its own foundations. The Etruscans, the Romans, and those who followed dug into the tufa (the same soft volcanic rock from which catacombs were made) to create more than 1,000 separate cisterns, caves, passages, storage areas, and production areas for wine and olive oil. Much of the tufa removed was used as building blocks for the city that exists today, and some was partly ground into pozzolana, which was made into mortar. You can see the labyrinth of dugout chambers beneath the city on the Orvieto Underground tour, which runs daily at 11, 12:15, 4, and 5:15 (reservations recommended), departing from Piazza del Duomo 23.
Piazza del Duomo 23, Orvieto, Umbria, 05018, Italy0763-340688Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours €7; included with Carta Unica -
8. Piazza del Popolo
Built above the Roman Forum, Piazza del Popolo is Todi's high point, a model of spatial harmony with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. In the best medieval tradition, the square was conceived to house both the temporal and the spiritual centers of power.
Piazza del Popolo, Todi, Umbria, ItalySight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
9. Pozzo della Cava
If you're short on time but want a quick look at the cisterns and caves beneath the city, head for the Pozzo della Cava, an Etruscan well for spring water. On a walk through nine excavated caves you can see the fascinating ruins of medieval houses and unearthed archaeological artifacts.
Via della Cava 28, Orvieto, Umbria, 05018, Italy0763-342373Sight Details
Rate Includes: €4; included with Carta Unica, Closed mid- to late Jan.
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