Orvieto is when you say look what’s underneath! The census inaugurated in the seventies by some of Orvieto’s speleologists led to the rediscovery and counting of more than 1,200 artificial cavities, which were given the name “Hadrian’s Labyrinth “
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And if we are not “under” Orvieto”, we are nevertheless “beyond”, being able to visit one of the most beautiful extruscan necropolises in existence: “The Necropolis of the Crucifix of the Tufa “. It is located at the base of Orvieto’s cliff, accessed by a pedestrian walkway that surrounds it, and is in fact a cluster of small quadrangular aedicule tombs, all more or less the same size, for a total of about seventy, made of tufa bricks, with a “chamber” model.
Of course, if you decide to climb up from the depths there are also many churches, palaces and museums, such as the breathtaking façade of Orvieto’s Duomo, the Cathedral of “Santa Maria Assunta “. Stunning mosaics and bas-reliefs decorate the main wall of the entrance, while four bronze stuatues embellish the cornices of the pillars flanking the portals, all embellished by the rose window and wonderful alternating basalt and travertine interior walls.
Besides this, walking along Orvieto’s streets also responds to excellent culinary reasons: ‘Palomba alla leccarda’ and ‘Pollo alla cacciatora’ are among the city’s oldest and most typical dishes, including ‘Umbrichelli al tartufo’ (Umbrichelli with truffles) and ‘Lumachelle’, pasta made from a careful mixture of flour, water and cheese. As for the confectionery menu, ‘Tozzetti alle mandorle’, ‘Frittelle di San Giuseppe’, ‘ciambelle al vino e all’anice’ (wine and aniseed doughnuts) and ‘Pizze pasquali’ (Easter pizzas) are the stars. King of the table, however, remains ‘Orvieto D.O.C.’, one of the most representative wines of the Italian wine panorama.
Folklore enthusiasts should note the ‘Festa della Palombella’ held every year on
Pentecost, as well as the ‘Palio dell’Oca’. For motoring enthusiasts there is instead the ‘Cronoscalata della Castellana’, an uphill speed car race. An exhibition dedicated to comics, staged in the “Palazzo dei Sette “ and in the “Palazzo del Popolo “ is the “Orvieto Comics”.
It really is a case of saying that Orvieto is a beautiful city inside and out!