Duomo di Orvieto

The most precious sight in Orvieto is probably the Cathedral. The splendid façade contains many of the elements of design that were common to religious construction from the 14th to the 20th century. The cathedral’s construction was begun in 1290 and lasted for almost 300 years. During the course of that time, the design evolved from Romanesque to Gothic. Many significant works of art can be found in the cathedral, and a visit to the Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio is a must-see. It contains frescoes begun by Fra Angelico and finished by Signorelli. The frescoes represent many events in Christianity including the Apocalypse and the Last Judgment. They begin with the Preaching of the Antichrist and continue to the Doomsday and the Resurrection of the Flesh.

Pozzo De San Patrizio

Orvieto’s main military weakness was a lack of water, due to its high position on the tufa rock, so the Medici Pope Clement VII ordered the well to be dug in case of a military siege. Visitors can walk down the 248 steps to the bottom to reach the water, without ever meeting the tourists going up thanks to its helix design inspired by the Vatican Belvedere staircase. Entry tickets are € 5 per person and can be purchased on site.