Orvieto (Umbria)

The city of Orvieto is placed south-western of Umbria and built on a massive tufa stone, dominating the valley of river Paglia. It was an important Etruscan and roman centre and a place of hard battles between Guelf and Ghibellines, until 1354 when it entered the State of the Church.
The Main monument of Orvieto is the amazing Dome, begun in the XIII sec. and completed in the 1500's. The Dome façade shines of coloured marbles, sculptures and mosaics. The inside is Romanesque-Gothic and hosts the Chapel of Saint Brizio with the famous Luca Signorelli’s frescoes. An amazing Orvieto’s works of art is Saint Patrick’s Well, formed by a cylindrical room and two winding staircase, for the transportation of water. It was made by the Church to ensure city water sufficiency also in times of siege, while the Rocca was like a shelter for Roman Popes escaping from Rome in times of war; Orvieto was practically impregnable, rising on a 50 meters high tufa massive.
This tufa plate were Orvieto is built has about 1200 galleries and caves underneath; everyone can still visit a part of them, few steps away from the Dome. Nearby the Rocca we find Etruscan Temple remains (Belvedere) and the Funicular, connecting the highest to the lowest part of the city and the railway station.
The local economy is mainly based on valuable white wine production, with the famous Gregetto of Orvieto, and on ceramics and on ceramics production.
The most important event is the Festa della Palombella.

Festivals / Events: UmbriaJazz - Eurochocholate - Spoleto Festival - Giostra della Quintana - Ceri Festival - Trasimeno Blues - Infiorata of Spello