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Thursday, March 15, 2018

Orvieto Deep Dive

Two years ago we went out of our way to check Orvieto off the list.  Like most places we have been in Italy, it is a place we'd return to in a heartbeat.  This time Orvieto was on the way, so we put down three nights.  Given the extra time we had and the rainy weather, we invested in the Orvieto Carta Unica, 10+ sites for 20 Euros, which kept us very busy. 

The highlight was the Signorelli Chapel in the Duomo.  I cannot believe we were such philistines for missing it the first time around.  The Signorelli Chapel predates the Sistine Chapel by 40 years and its Last Judgement is unsurpassed by Michelangelo.  While Saint Patrick's Well was immediately striking, Etruscan culture finally made an impression on us through the multitude of artifacts at multiple sites.

The Orvieto Underground tour (incl. Carta Unica) was pretty cool: medieval olive presses and dovecotes, and an ancient Etruscan well; all in tunnels underneath the city.
Underground - Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Underground - Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Underground - Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Underground - Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

We visited several museums that featured Etruscan pottery from the 6th Century BC. Some vases are influenced by Greek vases to varying degrees. Black buchareo is an Etruscan original.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Oh...and this head.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

We walked by the Duomo about 10 times - it is the center of the city. Each time the weather and light was different.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

The entrance ticket for the Duomo is included in the Carta Unica. The highlight by far is the Chapel of San Brizio, executed by Luca Signorelli around 1449, some 40 years before Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Hell.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Resurrection.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

The preaching of the AntiChrist (left).
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Pieta.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Looking to the rear of the Duomo.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Pano.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

The Duomo Museo has the original Madonna that was over the main doors.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

We started out on a walk around the base of Orvieto's City Wall and got caught in the rain; bummer, but then a rainbow.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

I've (John) have been looking forward to Saint Patrick's Well (Pozzo di S. Patrizio)for months. It did not disappoint. From wikipedia: The architect-engineer Antonio da Sangallo the Younger surrounded the central well shaft with two spiral ramps in a double helix, accessed by two doors, which allowed mules to carry empty and full water vessels separately in downward and upward directions without obstruction. The cylindrical well is 53.15 metres (174.4 ft) deep with a base diameter of 13 metres (43 ft). There are 248 steps and 70 windows provide illumination.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

The locals come out around 5pm for their evening stroll la passeggiata after the day-tripping tourists have left.

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

The next day we completed our walk around the base of the walls, stopping at the amazing, Etruscan Necropolis on the way.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

San Sebastian, one of my fav Catholic saints.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

We had a short conversation across the rooftops with the man in yellow. "Where are you going?"
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Evening views of the Duomo from atop Torre del Moro and on the ground.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

And a few more views from the top of the tower.
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy



2 comments:

Kathy said...

Great pix! You do seem to be unlucky with the weather this trip.

Have to say, if I never see another St. Sebastian full of arrows, I will be happy....

john said...

@kathy - Well, St Sebastian is my fav, sorry. ;-) [FYI: My 2nd fav is Santa Lucia.] In fact, I'm even more on the St Sebastian bandwagon after we visited the Saint Sebastian Catacombs outside Rome where his remains may be held. ;-)

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