Orvieto - what are people's favourite experiences?
 

We are spending several nights in Orvieto. Just wondering what people regard as their favourite experiences in Orvieto. We are also thinking of taking day trips to other villages. What would people recommend?

Last October we made a daytrip to Orvieto from Rome. I think it would be a great place to stay and use as a hub for daytrips.

Here are my impressions of the city;

It is on top of a hill about one hour from Rome by train. You must take a tram to the top, but the town has a bus on top to take you to the Duomo, the center of town. The price is included in the tram ticket. By the way the tram is just across the street from the train station.

Once on top there are some fine views so take your camera.

In the hill side there is an Etruscan Necropolis.

Orvieto has a pleasant small town feel to it with no particular site standing out. You can see the sights in the town in one day easily on foot. After the tourist left I am sure it calmed down a bit, but there were no maddening crowds when we visited.

Look at it like the Italian Mayberry.

Hope this helps
Greg

Dining at I Sette Consoli, my favorite restaurant in all of Italy.

We were in a villa 15 miles southeast of Orvieto last summer and spent a day in Orvieto as well as other local cities (e.g. Perugia), tourist destinations (e.g., Assisi), and villages (e.g., Montecchio). After enjoying Orvieto (particularly the duomo and its incredible mosaic facade and interior chapels, the small shops and wonderful restaurants), I'd be inclined to experience Umbrian hillside villages. We favored Montecchio dues to its proximity, but there are many others. It's really in the small villages I think where you get a sense of contemporary life, an appreciation for the people and their hospitality. By all means, go to Assisi and Perugia, perhaps tour a local winery (we has a tour/tasting at Falesco winery near Montecchio).

Hope some of this helps.

KC

Eating at I Sette Consoli and just walking around the lovely city. My wife's fave was all the beautiful ceramiche.

Hi ff,

Lunch in the garden at I Sette Consoli.
Pzza Sant’Angelo 1A
phone/fax 011 39 0763 343911

The Duomo, the town, the underground visit, the funicular are also nice.

See http://www.eng.uci.edu/~alberto/orvieto/en_seeing.html