No to ORVIETO
 

We returned a week ago from Italy. Rome and Florence were wonderful. People were nice and, of course, the scenery, museums, shopping, were great. However, we also went to Orvieto. We found signs saying "Go Away Yankee" and posters and articles against the US. People would not smile or speak and there were virtually no other Americans there that we saw. It was very disconcerting. We have been to Italy 7 times and we were four older women. If this is on a recent itinerary, I'd suggest waiting.

Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip for the most part.

I've seen few, if any, Americans on trips to Orvieto in years past, so I'm not sure the current political climate has much to do with that. It's been a while, but I sort of recall the locals in Oriveto as polite but not exactly effusive. For what it's worth, I usually consider it a day well spent when I don't see or hear any other Americans, since they are not what I go to Italy for!

That said, I can understand how the signs and posters might be disconcerting. Hope you were able to appreciate the magnificent Duomo in spite of it all.

I'm sorry that Orvieto disappointed you. We also just returned from Europe this week and our last stop was Italy. I did see signs that said "Yankee Go Home" etc but we didn't encounter any rude people during our travels, which included a day in Orvieto. The people in Orvieto, while not extremely talkative (but there's more of a language barrier in the small towns of Italy than the big citites) were pleasent. I honestly think it would be a shame to miss out on this city. The food is incredible, the wine is fabulous, the Duomo is one of the most incredible in Italy (in my opinion) and Orvieto itself is magnificent. It's situated on the top of an escarpment and the view as you approach it on the road is breathtaking.
We spent the last two months traveling in Europe and encountered all sorts of opinions on Americans. I think that if you let the posters and the aritcles get to you (as I did at the beginning of our trip) then you'll miss out on some of the most splendid experiences that life has to offer.

This is disturbing to me. I will be going to that area and further south in a month and don't want to bump up against anti-Americanism. I didn't think the Italians were doing that, it is a shame.
I don't want to patronize a place where I am not wanted.

We, too, just returned from Italy and spent an afternoon in Orvieto. We had a lovely time and were met with no anti-american sentiment. We had a lovely lunch with great service, and an elderly couple who ran an adorable little hat shop were most kind. I am sorry that your experience was unlike ours, but I do not think others should avoid that area based on your experience.

nocinonut -

I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I don't know where you live, but in my big US city, anti-war and anti-Bush posters and stickers are pretty visible. Freedom of expression, differences of political opinion, and the trappings that go with them, are present in nearly all cities and all countries. That does not mean that you are going to be treated in a hostile manner.

Europeans actually seem to understand better than lots of Americans that public policy is not necessarily the will of the people. If you are a Bush booster, you might not want to advertise that fact. Other than that, go about the business of enjoying your trip!

Lesli, thanks for the encouragement. I am a little wary about political situations because my then-husband and I were a little roughed up in Northern Ireland once when it was noticed that we were American (long story).

I will go anyway of course.

Just go. It is distirbing but that is the expression of a few, I am sure.
Also in many US cities you can find equivalent signs from a few who hate this and that......

The "Go Home Yankee" sign could be from a peace protest. There have been protests in Italy that are not local. Folks come in from other areas (countries in some instances) to protest. I'm not sure why orvieto might have been a location for one though it could been folks on their way to protest in rome...who knows.

My experience though is that the Italians are not anti-american. They may not agree with the president of the US but they do not hold that against US citizens.

Wow, I am really surprised at this. I have spent time in Orvieto for the past two summers and will do so again this year.

There are so many US-run art and performing workshops there each summer -- the town is full of Americans. Obviously this also contributes greatly to the local economy, so if the Yankees did go home it would hurt the shops, restaurants, and hotels quite a lot. I simply can't believe this is the prevalent sentiment.

We were planning on lunch in Orvieto on Friday...one of our first stops in Tuscany. We will still go. Any suggestions for a restaurant? Thanks.

TO: JULIEROSE

RISTORANTE ETRUSCA, via Maintini, 10.
half block down street leading from '
front of duomo.
RISTORANTE MAURIZIO, via Duomo 75
at right hand corner of duomo square.
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Thanks I will take these names with me.

how can you let one incident upset you so much. do not ever go to frascati then you may see worse. this is the result of a small segment who are protesting something. i have never had any anti-american issues directed personally to me in all the time i have spent in italy. orvieto is one of my favorite plaaces. roll witjh the punches . they may hate bush but will not take it out on you

I missed the 2003 date on this post. I was in Orvieto last May 2005 and we had a wonderful time there. We actually found the restaurant owner where we are to be extremely friendly, offering us free after dinner drinks and a tour of his wine cellar.

A very pleasant experience. The town is worth a visit and CRABLOUSE is just that and to think he named himself that.

I went to Orvieto two summers ago and really liked it. I know this thread is old, but I don't want it to stop anyone from going there.

We actually ran into 2 different sets of Fodorites while there at the restaurant Settee Consoli (sp). Stayed at Locanda Rosetti and it was one of my favorite stops.

What a bunch of crapola. We were in Orvieto in Sep 2004. We stayed at Locanda Rosati. Spent two nights there.

The only thing negative I could say about Orvieto is that I thought the gelato in Montepulciano was much better. :-) ((b))

I agree with virtually all of the CURRENT posters. We were in Orvieto last September and had a wonderful time - visiting the duomo, strolling the streets (aka shopping), and eating and drinking wine.

I guess I don't understand why this very old thread was resurrected - by someone who also obviously enjoyed Orvieto.

KC

Hi, I was in Italy recently and our reservation was given mistakenly to another American couple{that had a baby}. Well we're Canadian but we didn't correct anyone because it was just my husband and I and we could easily relocate. This being said Canadians get mistaken for Americans all the time but I personally think Americans are getting shafted. Americans get blamed for all the ills of the world. But don't worry your neighbors know better. We appreciate our friends and neighbors to the south. Not all Canadians support our governments stance. In fact some of our best friends are...American.

Sorry to be negative, but I feel compelled to comment. My family spent a weekend in Orvieto earlier this month...we had been there for only an afternoon 3 years ago and found it so beautiful, we were excited to be able to go back and spend more time there on this trip to Italy. However,we were very disappointed to find an extremely unfriendly attitude. We only encountered one or two friendly residents, in general we felt very unwelcome and uncomfortable there. We are not loud or demanding, my daughter is living and studying in Rome and speaks Italian, my husband lived in Rome, we have travel often, our children are young adults, well dressed and well mannered, there was no cause for the treatment we recieved. It was painfully obvious that most residents, shopkeepers, hotel staff, waiters do not want Americans there. The Duomo is amazing and worth seeing, the town pictuesqe, but I have to advise to move on after that. We were truly anxious to get out of there. The rest of our trip was spent in Rome (10 days) which was wonderful, everyone there lovely, helpful and fiendly, it made up for the experience in Orvieto.