ORVIETO

Here I toured the fascinating caves of the Etruscan underground and enjoyed the extravagant Duomo and laid-back local ambience.
Tour the underground Etruscan city of ORVIETO— its spectacularly preserved caves, tunnels, dovecotes, and wells dating from the ninth century BC— and then spend the rest of the day exploring the aboveground medieval city. (www.orvietounderground.it) When you arrive by funivia, spend some time admiring the panorama from the fortezza and wind your way down into the Pozzo di San Patrizio commissioned by Pope Clement VII before the 1527 Sack of Rome. Climb the Torre del Moro for another spectacular Umbrian view. Definitely marvel at the gorgeous façade of the Duomo and go inside to observe its unbelievable patterns and frescoes (noteworthy is Luca Signorelli’s depiction of the Apocalypse in the Capella della Madonna di San Brizio). The adjacent Museo dell’Opera del Duomo holds more artwork and you can even duck into a frescoed Etruscan tomb in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Escape the mobs of American tourists with a passeggiata through the quiet neighborhoods on the other side of Orvieto, ending at the terraced garden near Chiesa di San Giovenale.