Umbria · TR
Orvieto
A town on a cliff of volcanic tuff, with one of the most spectacular cathedrals in Italy and an underground city to explore. The easiest day trip from Rome.
Photo: NikonZ7II, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Orvieto
Down St Patrick's Well
Orvieto · All year
Orvieto Underground tour
Orvieto · All year, several departures a day
The Anello della Rupe walk
Orvieto · All year
Umbria Jazz Winter
Orvieto · Late December, over New Year
Bookable tours in Orvieto
Tickets, guided tours and tastings with free cancellation on most activities, shown live from GetYourGuide.
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Why go solo
Probably the easiest car-free trip in Umbria: direct trains from Rome and Florence, a funicular up to town and everything within walking distance. Perfect for a first solo trip.
Visiting Orvieto: the guide
Orvieto Cathedral
The reason most people come. The Gothic façade is a shimmer of gold mosaics and marble reliefs: see it in the morning and again at sunset. Inside, don't miss the Chapel of San Brizio, frescoed by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli with a dramatic Last Judgement. Entry is paid and includes the chapel.
Orvieto Underground
Beneath the town lies another Orvieto: more than a thousand caves dug into the tuff over three thousand years. The Orvieto Underground guided tours leave from the cathedral square and in about an hour take you through Etruscan tunnels, cisterns, an old olive press and the dovecotes where pigeons were bred. Tours run in English too; book ahead in summer.
St Patrick's Well
Commissioned by Pope Clement VII in the 16th century to supply water during a siege: two spiral staircases, one going down and one coming up, that never cross.
Orvieto in one day
Take the funicular from the station: St Patrick's Well and the Albornoz gardens are right where you arrive. Walk or take the bus to the cathedral, then visit the underground city after lunch, climb the Torre del Moro and finish in the medieval quarter for sunset.
What to eat and buy
Try umbrichelli, a hand-rolled pasta, with truffle or ragù, and a glass of Orvieto Classico, the local white wine. To take home: Orvieto ceramics, lace and a bottle of wine.
What to see in Orvieto
Orvieto Cathedral
A golden mosaic façade and Luca Signorelli's Last Judgement in the Chapel of San Brizio.
Orvieto Underground
Caves, tunnels, olive presses and dovecotes carved into the tuff, on guided tours from the cathedral square.
St Patrick's Well
A 16th-century well with two spiral staircases that never meet.
Torre del Moro
Climb it for a 360-degree view over the rooftops.
Medieval quarter and San Giovenale
The quietest lanes in town, down to the oldest church overlooking the valley.
Anello della Rupe
A free walking path all around the cliff, past walls, caves and an Etruscan necropolis.
How to get there
Orvieto is on the Florence–Rome railway: direct trains from Rome take about an hour and a quarter. Opposite the station, the funicular climbs to the old town in a few minutes.
Don't miss
Umbria Jazz Winter (): The winter jazz festival around New Year, with concerts in theatres, churches and bars.
Day trip or overnight?
An easy day trip from Rome; staying the night lets you see the cathedral glowing at sunset.
Plan your visit
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Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Orvieto without a car?
Orvieto is on the Florence–Rome railway: direct trains from Rome take about an hour and a quarter. Opposite the station, the funicular climbs to the old town in a few minutes.
How much time do you need for Orvieto?
One day. An easy day trip from Rome; staying the night lets you see the cathedral glowing at sunset.
When is the best time to visit Orvieto?
The best months are March, April, May, September, October, December. Don't miss: Umbria Jazz Winter (undefined).
How do you get to Orvieto from Rome?
Direct regional trains on the Rome–Florence line take about an hour and a quarter; from the station a funicular climbs to the old town.
Is Orvieto worth a day trip?
Yes: the cathedral, the underground city and the views make it one of the best day trips from Rome.
Is there an English tour of Orvieto Underground?
Yes, the guided tours that leave from the cathedral square run in English too.
