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GASTRONOMY IN ORVIETO

ITINERARY

ORVIETO

A combination of artistic, naturalistic and archeological splendors.

Orvieto is a city that went through many historic eras, some of which as a protagonist, in particular during the Etruscan and medieval ages. It is a center of great historical and cultural importance of Italy. It is possible to breathe the splendor of the past by walking through the monuments, characteristic alleys, or visiting its museums. In fact, Orvieto boasts a great historical-cultural heritage, for many aspects, unique of its kind in Umbria. The main landmarks are: The Cathedral and Saint Patrizio’s well. Saint Maria Assunta’s Cathedral, known as “Il Duomo” is an example of gothic and Romanesque architecture.  Dedicated to the Virgin Assunta, it is known everywhere as one of the prime artistic realizations of the late Italian medieval time.  It gathers under one roof the feeling that pervades  the construction of the great European Cathedrals of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the architectural solutions of the mendicant orders and the figurative motifs of the French Gothic art. Inside, it features important works of art, frescos by Luca Signorelli, a Corporal Reliquary and preserves the Sacred Corporal.  Built in 1290, the construction was continued by Lorenzo Maitani, who also realized the amazing façade, with its extraordinary low relieves. It is large 40 meters, and high 52 meters, embellished by mosaics, and a rose window realized by Andrea Orcagna. Saint Patrizio’s well, originally known as fortress Well, because adjacent to the Albarnoz fortress, was named after Saint Patrizio as probably used in analogy with “Saint Patrizio Purgatory”, an underground grotto in which the Irish Saint would go to pray, and where the no believers, who ventured up to the bottom, would have obtained the forgiveness for their sins and the access to heaven. The work, commissioned to Antonio da San Gallo il Giovane in 1527 , was wanted by  the Pope Clemente VII, more or less, during  the restoration works of the quarry well on the other side of the cliff, to secure the supply of water into the city, in case of a siege by the enemies. Completed in 1537 during Paolo III Farnese’s rule, the structure indicates, for its dimension and the well designed project, a great endeavor to be remembered. It is a great engineering work based on hydrological studies that led to spot the right site to reach the clayish aquifer of the springs and to cover by tiles a part of the well’s walls in order to be more resistant. Its depth is 54 meters and its diameter 13meters.  The construction is really unique, because of the double helicoidal flight of stairs, (a two ways course), which allowed the working animals   to carry the water without clashing with others coming up from the opposite direction. The well has 248 steps, and 72 big windows, which filter the light of the day.  Located on a tuff cliff, Orvieto is surrounded by the Calanchi Valley, and features  a marvelous panorama. Walking through its alleys rich in history is a must.