Orvieto

ORVIETO TRAVEL GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

Orvieto has grown on a cliff of tuffaceus stone. Today its Gothic cathedral is a wide appeal for tourists beckoned by this captivating town. The city overflows with tourists in the summertime a fact which is understandable for Orvieto deserves admiration.

This town has been an Umbrian powerful town for 30 centuries. The city was founded as an Etruscan settlement in the 8th or 9th century BC and was recognized for its skilfully done bronze and ceramics works.

Vestiges of this splendorous remote past are exhibited in its museums such as the Museo Claudio Faina e Civico and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale.

Another heyday Orvieto experienced was when in the medieval times it had clout of the papal states. Besides the cathedral many other splendid private and religious buildings were erected.

All these magnificent period monuments make Orvieto a wondrous place to take a walk.  What to See and Do Cathedral Celebrations Civic and religious buildings More outings a comfortable and organized way to get around is by previously buying the Orvieto Unica Card.

It allows the visit to attractions such as:

Cappella di San Brizio, Museo Claudio Faina e Civico, Orvieto Underground, Torre del Moro, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and the Crocifisso del Tufo Etruscan Necropolis.

It also pays five hours in the car park next to the cable car or a round trip on the cable car and city buses.

The Orvieto Unica Card can be bought at the Campo della Fiera park, in the places it allows free entrance, the tourist office or the cable car parking space.

For the tourist information office e-mail info@iat.orvieto.tr.it or head for Piazza Duomo 24.   
 
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Sosta which is located on Corso Cavour is a self service restaurant where pizza and pasta are very good quality. However meat and vegetable dishes are also included among their dishes.

Le Grotte del Fumaro is an atmospheric restaurant situated in a cavern. From its small windows the views are fabulous. It is decorated with agricultural elements and there is a piano bar to enjoy some music.

The fine Osteria dell’Angelo is considered by many one of the top Umbrian restaurants. Its chef was awarded the “2000 Chef to Watch”. Among its delights is the banana soufflé coated in rum-and-cream sauce and its wine cellar which is well stocked.

Ristorante La Pergola serves traditional meaty Umbrian dishes among which is the cinghiale (wild boar). A magnificent place to savour your meals is its garden overflown with flowers.

L’Asino d’Oro is a deservedly well renowned typical trattorie. The composition of its menu varies as its imaginative chef creates new dishes day after day. A creative dish that you may find sometime is wild boar in sweet and sour sauce with cocoa.

Ristorante Zeppelin has been themed on the 1920s with jazz in the background and an inviting long wooden bar. Its menu of Umbrian dishes embraces vegetarian, children and traditional dishes. Cooking lessons can be taken at the restaurant.

La Badia Ristorante is an elegant eatery whose suckling pig and tagliolini pasta with truffles is magnificent.

Ristorante I Sette Consoli on Piazza Sant’Angelo’s fame is growing day after day even for people who have heard of it in other cities such as Rome and Milan. Bookings are a must for its delights draw a big clientele of the nouvelle cuisine. Its garden is perfect to enjoy a summer evening with the best and most creative food in a magnificent atmosphere.

Caffe Montanucci on Corso Cavour is a friendly café offering cocktails, espresso, and delectable chocolate bars, ice-cream, panini and internet connection.

Cantina Foresi is a wine bar and café on Piazza Duomo which offers panini and sausages accompanied with local wines. Pasqualetti is an ice parlour whose delectable ice creams are ideal to sit at the tables and observe the stunning cathedral on Piazzo Duomo.

Il Palazzo del Gusto is a fascinating Etruscan underground wine cellar. Some tunnels have been designed for wine tasting and celebrations to be held in them. Some of them can be observed behind glass doors. Vinosus on Piazza Duomo offering views of the northwest side of the cathedral. is not only a wine bar but also a restaurant serving magnificent cheese.   

HOW TO GET TO ORVIETO

BY BUS : to Rome (length: 1 .20 hours, services: 2 a day).
BY CABLE CAR: to reach Piazza Cahen up the hill departures are every 13 minutes on average. Bus 1 connects the train station and the old town and ATC bus A goes from Piazza Cahen to Piazza Duomo. Take ATC bus B to go to Piazza della Repubblica.
BY CAR: the A1 goes past Orvieto and the SS71 goes to Lake Trasimeno. There is a free car park behind the train station, in Piazza Cahen and in other areas outside the city walls. BY TRAIN: the train linking Rome-Florence goes past Orvieto. To Rome (length: 1 ¼ hours, services: every hour), to Florence (length: 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours , services: every hour), to Perugia (length: 1 ¼ hours, services: every other hour).