Orvieto is one of the most striking, memorable, and enjoyable hill towns in central Italy. About 90 minutes from Rome, Orvieto sits majestically high above the valley floor atop a big chunk of tufo (tuff) volcanic stone, overlooking cypress-dotted Umbrian plains. A visit here will reward you with a delightful, perfectly preserved, and virtually traffic-free world highlighted by a colorful-inside-and-out cathedral and some of Italy’s best wine.
Orvieto has two distinct parts: the old-town hilltop and the dull new town below. Driving in the upper old town is not recommended. And it’s not necessary: From the train station (and a vast free parking lot just behind it) a slick little funicular whisks visitors memorably and effortlessly up the town’s natural fortress hill and deposits them about a 10-minute walk or a quick shuttle ride from the heart of town.
