Orvieto Italy - a surprise stop along the way

 June 18 - Saturday morning 

On the way to our today’s destination, our tour guide surprised us with a 2 hour stop in a town on the top of a rock cliff in Umbria Italy called Orvieto.  It dates back to the 1290’s and was a gem of a stop.  I didn’t know about the Etruscan’s, but this city was started by them and had some fantastic things to see.  If I ever could, I would go back to spend a few days there. - Mary 

Of course, you all know the first thing that happens when you arrive at a place!   This was on the door to the WC. (Water Closet)  

Next we all stuffed into a cable car, that said the capacity was 76 + 1, and headed up the mountain  

How can this tiny cable car have a capacity of 77?  Good thing we had our masks on 

Dimitri (our guide), bought us tickets to see the local church, showed us where to get our lunch sandwiches and gave us ideas where to head!   First stop, the Saturday markets! 

We learned (maybe the hard way, I’m not saying) that you DON’T pick up the fruit from a vendor’s stand   

Then we moved on to explore the town. 

We went out of the touristy areas and saw wonderful alleyways   

This horse was in another narrow walking street.  I hopped on it before a little kid could 🤷‍♀️

Christine is checking out the wall decorations on another alley  

Peaceful inner courtyard.  I loved seeing these in all of the towns  

Another cool thing on the back streets/alleyways.  Everywhere we looked was something cool or different! 

Even more alleyway discoveries.  As you can see from Christine’s smile, it was so much fun.  

Then the alleyways were playing organ music and when we followed the music, we ended up at the church we had tickets for. Orvieto Cathedral is a large 14th-century Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

I prefer the non restored artwork on the walls.  We could walk right up to this one. 

The high altar 

The intrepid travelers at their umpteenth church! 

This was the holy water font which was built in 1390.  It was where we also could just go and touch it.  We didn’t because touching will age something quicker. (Just doing our part) 

I guess I should have used my ticket to get out!  These huge copper doors didn’t budge. 

Eating our sandwiches on the way out of town.  We were told that it was boar.  We won’t swear to that, but they were great. 

Andiamo!  Goodbye Orvieto- you were fun!   On to Cinque Terre!