Podere Torricella

Never on a Monday

by Bunsch

Not just in Orvieto...many (perhaps most) Italian museums are closed on Mondays. This can be a spirit-killer if you're only in a city or town for a single day and the museums are unavailable, which is why the Spirit moves me to suggest that much of Italy's great art is found in its churches, virtually all of which are open every day of the week (and are generally free, to boot). So find your Caravaggios and della Robbias in the local duomo, and soak in the notion that people have been hallowing with their prayers the place where they are situated for many hundreds of years.

Necropolis of Crocifisso del Tufo

by JohanIsWeg

Tombs in the necropolis of Crocifisso del Tufo generally consist of single rectangular chambers built in square blocks of tufa and laid in horizontal courses in dry masonry. The pseudovault roof is formed from progressively projecting blocks closed at the top by a keystone course. Access to the interior is through a doorway closed by a tufa slab and sealed with stone blocks set flush with the outer wall. Two small benches – one the side and back walls – received the deceased and funeral furnishings. The name of the head of the family or the owner of the tomb was cut into the architrave over the doorway – representing some of the most conspicuous Etruscan inscriptions.

Bask in Orvieto Duomo's golden face

by JohanIsWeg

Little expense was spared in creating the stunning mosaics that grace Orvieto Duomo's facade. Completed predominantly between 1350 and 1390, artisans cut and embedded the glass in the mortar with their own hands. However, as time passed, they relied more on external drawings from the masters, which allowed lesser skilled craftsmen to cut and embed the tesserae into the mortar.

Orvieto Duomo's facade highlight many scenes from the Virgin Mary's assumption into heaven.

Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo

by iandsmith

In the 13th century a new position was created as part of the governing body. It was a military-political figure who flanked the Podesta and the Consuls and this edifice, completed in 1284, was built to house this new position. The bell tower was added in 1306 and a broad flight of steps (just to the left and out of sight in the main picture) was added later.
There was a large hall for gatherings and it was lined with splendid frescoes of which, sadly, little remain because the arches were replaced with a trussed timber roof in 1480.
In the 17th century it had a pawn agency and theatre inside but the swallow tail Ghibelline embattlements weren't added till the 19th century.
Today it is used for exhibitions and, during relatively recent excavations, traces of Etruscan remains and a cistern were found.

Orvieto

by leffe3

Orvieto is one of the oldest cities in Italy, sitting as it does on a volcanic table of volcanic tufa. Rising some 320 metres above the valley floor below, the location provided the perfect protected spot. Bronze and Iron Age remains have been found before becoming the Etruscan town of Volsinium. Forced out by the Romans in 264 BC, the town became known as Urbs Vetus (Old City) which eventually developed into Orvieto.

The main attraction of Orvieto, other than its wonderful location and views across the valley floor in all directions, is the Duomo, 'the Golden Lily of Italian Cathedrals' (Pope Leo XIII). The stunning facade dominates the narrow streets around it and the tower can be seen for miles around.