Next July, after what promises to be an epic time in Puglia and Matera, I’ll have 10 nights on my own for some Me time. My last night, I’ll be in Naples in anticipation of my flight home, but I’m trying to decide if I want to spend 2 nights in Orvieto (where I’ve never been) and 4 nights in Florence (where I’ve been as recently as Summer ‘23 for a week) or 3 nights and 3 nights. My thought is that I can easily enough do a day trip or 2 via train from Florence, but that Orvieto won’t provide the same opportunity. So, if I’m there, I’m there, you know? Maybe Orvieto has plenty to do for 3 nights? My remaining 3 nights are in Rome where I have a friend’s apartment to stay in, but I could take a night from Rome, if necessary. Thoughts on Orvieto? Are there easy (without a car) day trips that you might recommend? Thanks for helping with #italy2024.

I liked Orvieto very much. We just went for the day but didn't see everything, but it was mid-morning before we got there. But you will be there for an evening and a full day in July with light evenings so I would think two nights would be just perfect. Easier to day trip from Florence than Orvieto
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspo...y-orvieto.html

Thank you, JT. I enjoyed reading your Bari/Puglia blog posts and appreciate you sharing your experiences. I think that arriving in Orvieto (from Naples) and staying 2 nights will probably be just about right.

Check current train timetables, but in the past there has been service from Orvieto to a few towns within a reasonable distance for day trips. Whether you want/need more time in Florence than Orvieto depends on the day trips you want to make.

From Orvieto:

Chiusi
Castiglione del Lago
Cortona
Arezzo

Summer crowds in Florence can be crushing. Depending on when exactly in summer, I might not want to be there... and that's saying a lot because Florence is my favorite Italian city.

I think I'm leaning towards making Orvieto a two night stay this time around. Thanks for the tips and recommendations. I have a wicked crush on my host from this past summer's stay in Florence and will stay with him again for 4 nights and will look to take a day trip or two to escape Florence as necessary. The view from that particular property was spectacular and the location was perfect for me. (PS. My crush is purely platonic!)

One fascinating structure in Orvieto is usually overlooked: il Pozzo di San Patrizio (St. Patrick's well). It's a 16th century excavation, 160 feet deep, that was constructed to give access to a subterranean spring. It's reached by a double helix staircase, with shallow broad steps, so that mules could descend to get water and return to the surface without encountering mules going in the other direction.

St. Patrick's well is on my list. Thank you! I'm feeling pretty good about the itinerary I've laid out for next summer, with 2 nights in Orvieto in an adorable Airbnb. Looking to take a day trip from Florence and think Bologna might be just the right spot.

Orvieto is a small and fascinating city of Etruscan origins, definitely worth visiting if you are between Rome or Florence, easily reachable by train.