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Orvieto » Old Town

City Walls
(a photo by Gaspa)

Right next to the Cathedral you will find the Opera del Duomo Museum. The most prominent of its exhibits include the paintings by Simone Martini and Francesco d'Antonio da Viterbo, several interesting sculptures by Andrea Pisano and Arnolfo di Cambio dating back to the 13th century, as well as a lovely church font decorated with sculptured relief of fishes. The museum also has a large separate section devoted only to the works of Emilio Greco, a famous 20th-century Italian sculptor, who has created the bronze doors of the Duomo.

Underground Tunnels

The lovingly restored Claudio Faina Museum is located close to the Duomo too. From its interiors you can enjoy superb views of the cathedral's magnificent façade. The museum displays in a wonderful way a remarkable collection of ancient vases and various artifacts from the archaeological excavations of local Etruscan mound-tombs. The tombs, most of them dating back to the 6th century BC (more than 2500 years ago), can be also seen in their original places near the road that goes down from Piazza Cahen to the railway station. They worth your visit mostly because of their large and skillfully carved gravestones but none of them has the huge sizes and the amazing decorative frescoes of the wide known Etruscan mound-tombs of Cerveteri and Tarquinia. You can enquire about the guided tours of the underground tunnels, cellars and stores of the old town in the tourist office at Piazza del Duomo. These tunnels were dug in the mild volcanic rock over which the city was built. Most of them date back to the middle ages but some are even as old as the time of the Etruscan civilization.

San Giovenale Church

An exciting and very pleasant walk from Piazzale Cacciatore along the southern ramparts of the medieval town with nice panoramic views of a neighboring rocky outcrop, formed by the ancient volcanic crater, will take you to the fine medieval Church of San Giovenale, which probably was the old cathedral of Orvieto. It stands in the most western edge of the "rupa", as the locals call the naturally fortified volcanic plateau, on which the old town spreads. The exterior of the church is nothing special (in spite of the gabled façade made of blocks of local volcanic stone - tufa), but inside you will admire one of the oldest, most beautiful and best preserved medieval interiors. The Gothic-styled transept has two graceful pointed arches dating back to the 13th century. It has a weird architectural plan raising higher than the round-shaped Romanesque nave. In this way the medieval architect created a church characterized by a unique blend of two architectural styles (Gothic and Romanesque). The walls inside are almost entirely painted with splendid frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries.

A View from Torre del Moro
(a photo by Sonietta46)

To go back to the historical centre from San Giovenale you may walk along Via Malabranca and Via Filippeschi, two of the most atmospheric and well-preserved medieval streets in Orvieto. For a bird's-eye view over the city you should climb the Torre del Moro, an old medieval tower, standing on the pedestrian Corso Cavour, close to the southern side of Piazza del Popolo.

Palazzo del Popolo

The Church of San Andrea is situated at the nearby Piazza della Repubblica. It attracts visitors with its majestic and odd campanile, constructed as a twelve-sided tower with several rows of arched windows. The crypt of church contains remains of ancient Etruscan and Roman buildings. Continue your walk upward along Corso Cavour, which is the main pedestrian thoroughfare of the old town and in few minutes you will find yourself at the recently restored Palazzo del Popolo. An everyday fruits and vegetables market is held on the piazza in front of the palace.

Another interesting historic monument in Orvieto is Il Pozzo di San Patrizio - a huge well, built during the first half of 16th century on the order of Pope Clement VII. It was needed to supply the city with water in the time of the expected siege by the imperial troops, which never happened. The water was brought to service by the force of two donkeys which moved along two staircases. The well is really an impressive achievement of the renaissance architectural thought.