Orvieto, Italy

 Barry, Cindy and I did a day trip to Orvieto the day before we left Tuscany to head to the coast for the wedding. Orvieto is located in Umbria, and sits up on a hill 1,000 feet from the valley floor. The town features a beautiful gothic cathedral, Etruscan caves, and an old well (wait for it).

Duomo in Orvieto was built in the 14th century

Beautiful gothic facade with four pillars, each telling a different biblical story: Creation, Tree of Jesse, Old and New Testament, and the Last Judgment stories

Mary and Jesus

Nave of the Duomo

Stunning paintings in the chapels

Mary in the Chapel of the Corporal

It's amazing how old these paintings are, yet how beautiful and intact they remain today

I liked the bronze angels on the doors exiting the cathedral

Cindy and Barry entering the Etruscan caves. The Etruscans lived and founded Orvieto, prior to the Romans arrival, whom killed and eradicated the Etruscan people and culture. 

Map of the Etruscan caves. Each hilltop home had access to these caves in ancient times, where they would store food, wine, and pigeons and other livestock. Some 2,000 caves have been discovered, only a few hundred explored. There are believed to be more of the medieval caves yet to be discovered.

Castle viewed from atop Orvieto. It has now been turned into a hotel.

View of the valley from the old Orvieto city walls

Another view of the valley from the city hilltop

Model of St. Patrick's Well. Commissioned by St. Patrick in the 16th century to hold off the Romans, having a sustainable water source was a big priority for the city. The two spiral staircases had a one-way traffic flow--you go down into the well, and then you (or your donkey, if you're lucky) comes up the other side carrying your water.

Cindy peering through one of the many windows of the well

The well is 175 feet deep and 45 feet wide. Pretty big accomplishment for the 16th century!