Orvieto

We loved this little hilltop town! We'd never heard of Orvieto until I came across it while trying to choose a town to break our journey from Calabria to Siena. The minute we stepped foot in the town, it felt like we'd gone back in time. This medieval town sits atop a cliff of red volcanic rock, with its buildings made from blocks of the same "tufo" (tuff) volcanic rock. We took a slow stroll down the streets as the sun began to set, taking our time to enjoy the beauty of the place. 

Start of our walk just up the slope from our airbnb

One very happy little monkey. Even in this tiny place, Miss shopaholic managed to talk her father into buying her something, sunglasses! 

We stopped at a tiny trattoria recommended by our airbnb host for dinner, and I had a most delicious chicken innards pappardelle. Mum had the local specialty, a type of pasta called strangozzi which reminded us so much of the Chinese noodles my grandmother used to make. 

My dinner which eventually got highjacked by Miss Mia who was not happy with her rather overdone lamb chops 😤.

The sight of the Duomo di Orvieto at night took our breath away. The golden mosaics, bronze doors, black and white marble, and intricately carved panels were absolutely magnificent. 

And as always, we end our night with yet another gelato.

We stayed in a gorgeous little airbnb about 10mins walk from the main piazza. The houses are all built so close together that we could just look across and see right into our neighbour's home and vice versa. Guess this just adds to the charm of the place.

Tiny but cosy

Enjoying a quiet breakfast with Po Pi in our little garden.

Helping Chiara, our lovely host, water the plants around the side of the house.

We went back to the Duomo after breakfast, bathed in sunlight it looked even more magestic. 

On the front exterior of the Duomo, four marble pillars are carved with the biblical scenes from the creation of man to the last judgement.

Frescos of the Day of Judgement in the Chapel of San Brizio inside the Duomo.

The white marble Pieta

Below the city lies a labyrinth of underground tunnels dug by the Etruscans in medieval times. This underground city had not just wells and cisterns, but also grottoes, galleries, cellars, and quarries. This became the place of work and businesses for the people then. It was fascinating to go so far down and see what life was like for people who lived here all those years ago.

Making our way through the many narrow tunnels.

An old wooden olive press

An underground pigeon columbaria. Just the thought of hundreds of pigeons resting in these holes was enough to make this boy shake. Imagine being trapped underground with birds flying all around you 😱. 

Lunch was at an underground restaurant. The food was very good and service very friendly too.

Local black truffle pasta, stuffed roast pork and salami pizza. We've wise up now, no more asking for pepperoni pizza. We got a capsicum pizza when we did! Poor Mia was not impressed 😆. 

Looking down over the Tuscan hills