Orvieto is built on a tuff cliff dominating a large plain. The town has developed very freely, compelled to superimpose throughout the centuries the various phases of its growth, one on top of the other so a visit to the town is like taking a journey through history as you can find the traces of every epoch spanning nearly three thousand years.

Near the edge of the cliff is the Well of San Patrizio, an original structure 60 metres deep with almost 250 stairs built with a double helix with one set of steps going down and another set going up. Undoubtedly, the town’s most famous monument is the Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.

Begun in 129, it was built by Martani, and it is one of the most important buildings in Italy, with its rose window and splendid façade rich in mosaics and bas-relief with works of rare beauty housed inside. Above ground you will find austere and elegant buildings, such as the Palazzo del Popolo and the Palazzo dei Sette, and below ground you will find another town, Orvieto Underground, where you can set out on an extraordinary journey through time, accompanied by a specialised guide, right through the heart of Orvieto.

In Orvieto art can also be found in the numerous craftsmen’s workshops hidden away in the old streets and where skilful masters ply their ancient trades producing beautiful objects of wrought iron, ceramics, precious metals and wood.

Food and wine are also an old tradition and in order to fully appreciate the history of Orvieto, you need to taste its prestigious white wine, Orvieto Classico, once pride of the Etruscan people and now famous throughout the world, its excellent extra virgin olive oil, its perfumed truffles and its cheeses and cured meats that are reminiscent of ancient flavours.