The Many Charms of Orvieto

Italy is one of the naturally beautiful countries in Western Europe. It is blesses with variety of topography ranging from sunny beaches to high mountains, interspersed with beautiful lush green valleys. One of the most beautiful and popular tourist spots in this stunning country is the area of Umbria and specifically the town of Orvieto that epitomises everything Italian.

Like the rest of the country it is famous for its hospitality, which can be experiences in any 5 star hotel in Orvieto, Italy. There is lot to see and do in this quaint and charming town of Orvieto.

One of the best luxury hotels to stay in the area is the 5 star Griffins Resort, which offers easy access to the many attractions to be found in the town. Some of the top things to do in Orvieto are:

 Visit The Duomo : The best place to begin your tour of the area is to visit its famous Duomo, which is a classic  Gothic cathedral. The Duomo at Orvieto serves as its main cathedral, and took over three centuries to complete. But the effort and labour put into this task really paid off as it is now renowned the world over as being a perfect model of Italian Gothic architecture.

Go on a tour of its famous fortress: The town is well known for its Albornoz Fortress known locally as "la rocca" which translated into English means "the rock".  It was specially built upon the request of a Spanish Cardinal Albornoz, who wanted it to be made for Pope Innocent VI.

Learn about the ancient Etruscans: To learn more about the Etruscans and learn about their culture and lives the Museum of the Opera del Duomo is the perfect spot to visit. It will make for a very informative and an interesting tour, where you can learn about the Etruscan way of life through its well preserved frescoes among other exhibits. You can also visit an Etruscan Pozzo (that is a well) to see if you could spot any differences in their wells from modern ones.  

 Take a ride aboard the funicular cable car: One of the most interesting ways to get an aerial view of the stunning landscape below is to hop aboard the funicular cable car that will take you to the old city that is high up above the mountains.

Tour the necropolis: One of the best way to pay your respects to the long departed Etruscan souls is to visit its famous Etruscan necropli (which means ancient graveyard). There are some very ornate burial chambers and definitely worth a visit.

Visit The Underground City: Italy is famous for its many undergrounds tunnels and passages and the town of Orvieto is no exception. There is a vast network of such tunnels and passages that can be visited by joining a guided tour.