TYPE: ITALIAN EXPERIENCE, OPEN AIR
TIME: 1 DAY TRIP
DEGREE: COMMON
Are you in Rome wondering which place or city could you visit on a day trip?
Here you will find a helpful route out of the city that you can have in one day:
HOW TO REACH IT?
There is one train from Termini to Orvieto, 1.15h of travel. Once you get outside the station, you will find the cable railway that brings you up to the town center. You cannot go wrong.
Prices: train tickets 16.80 € round trip.
Train tickets can be bought ONLINE
WHAT MAKES THIS TOWN SPECIAL?
- An easily reachable and charming example of the little Italian hilltop towns.
- It sits atop a cliff of tuff and is located in Umbria, less than 90 minutes from Rome.
- This town has ancient origins and a great patrimony of art and culture.
- Represents, among all, a destination rich in nature and landscapes.
WHAT TO SEE?
- PATRICK’S WELL
Absolutely the “must go“ underground attraction in Orvieto.
It is a water well 54 meters deep (248 steps) with a diameter of 13 meters, located at the right side of
the funicular station.
It was built in the 1500s on the will of the Pope in order to provide water to Orvieto in case of siege
(Rome had just been sacked by Germans).
The construction had a double helix staircase that let the donkeys go down and up easily bringing water
without hindrance.
From the deepest part of the well, looking to the top, you can have a suggestive point of view.
Price: 5.00 €; reduced 3.50 € (seniors, groups, and people with limited mobility); free for children up to 6 years old.
Opening hours depending on the season: Nov-Feb 10.00 AM-5.00 PM; March-April 09.00 AM-7.00 PM;
May-Aug 09.00 AM-8.00 PM; Sept-Oct 09.00 AM-7.00 PM.
2. MORO TOWER
The Moro tower, originally known as Pope Tower, is located between the four districts of this little
town. It was built as part of the Palace of the Seven, an edifice that used to house the Arts and
Corporations magistrates, they were just seven.
Later, it becomes part of the Pope possessions, and than was renamed as Moro tower in honor of
Raffaele del Sante, one important lord of that time, known ad The “Moro”.
From the top of this 47 meters high building, you can have a 360° view of the entire city.
There is one elevator that brings you halfway (people with mobility problems or wheelchair users should stop here) and then you can proceed using stairs for about 3 floors to the very top. Definitely, it is worth it. The view is stunning.
Price: 2.80 €; reduced 2.00 € (seniors, groups); free for children up to 10 years old.
Opening hours depending on the season: Nov-Feb 10.30 AM-4.30 PM; March-April 10.00 AM-7.00 PM; May-Aug 10.00 AM-8.00 PM; Sept-Oct 10.00 AM-7.00 PM.
3. DOME
This 14th-century cathedral is considered one of the most representative examples of the roman-gothic architecture in Italy; with its colorful marble facade, is the bigger treasure of this little town.
It was built at the behest of the Pope to create a suitable house for the Corporal of Bolsena, the relic of a miracle that took place in 1263: during a mass in the nearby city of Bolsena, the host began to bleed so much that it stained the altar cloth. This one is still preserved in a chapel inside the Dome.
Price: 2.80 €; reduced 2.00 € (seniors, groups); free for children up to 10 years old.
Opening hours depending on the season: Nov-Feb 9.30 AM-5.00 PM; March& Oct 9.30 AM-6.00 PM; Apr-Sep 9.30 AM-7.00 PM.
4. ORVIETO UNDERGROUND
One of the Orvieto surprises: a labyrinth with more than 1000 caves excavated in 2500 years by the
ancient inhabitants of the city; a treasure of historical and archeological information.
The only way to visit it is the guided tour: it starts from the ticket office and is provided in English and
Italian (but they offer a reservation for guided tours in other languages).
It is not recommended for people with limited mobility, because there are many steps and very narrow tunnels.
Prices: 7.00 €; reduced for groups, students and seniors 5.00 €;
Starting times: 11.00 AM; 12.15 PM; 4.00 PM; 5.15 PM (with a bigger tourist attendance, even every 15 minutes).
5. ALBORNOZ FORTRESS
This Castle-like stronghold stands at the edge of Orvieto.
Today it hosts the public garden and there is no entrance fee. It is very close to the funicular station, so you can have your visit at the start or the end of your itinerary (it is advisable to organize a visit as the last thing to see, at sunset, it can give you a colorful and stunning landscape view).
WALKING TOUR
One of the most interesting things to do in Orvieto is just walking around its characteristic narrow
streets: there are many nice views between buildings.
The main streets are the following: Corso Cavour, Via Filippeschi and Via Duomo. Moving around these
three streets you will find Repubblica Square and the Dome.
WHAT TO EAT?
Orvieto is not just art and landscape: here you can discover ancient craftsmanship, traditions, and culinary customs. The typical food is a specific kind of pasta called “umbrichelli”, often served with wild boar ragout.
This special town is also the house of Enoteca Regionale dell'Umbria (Umbrian Regional Wine Association):
Cervaro de La Sala, Fobiano, La Carraia, Febeo di Cardeto are some of the wines typical of this region.
Suggested restaurants:
- TRATTORIA DELL’ORSO, Via 2ᴼ della Misericordia, I, 18, 05018 Orvieto TR;
- DUCA Di ORVIETO, Via della Pace, 5, 05018 Orvieto TR;
- TRATTORIA LA PALOMBA, Via Cipriano Manente, 16, 05018 Orvieto TR.
RECOMMENDED ITINERARY:
- Train 2308 from Termini to Orvieto: dep. 9.00 AM; arr. 10.14 AM;
- Funicular to the top of the town;
- St. Patrick’s Well (less than 1h);
- Walking time through Corso Cavour;
- Get to the Moro Tower (less than 1h);
- Pass by Repubblica square and take a lunch break to the Trattoria dell’Orso (less than 50 meters
from the square);
- Take a walk straight to the Dome (1h of visit);
- Go back to the funicular station area to the Albornoz fortress and enjoy the sunset lights on a
stunning panoramic view;
- Take the funicular and then the 2313 train to Rome: dep. 5.27PM; arr. 7.00 PM.
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