We spent the afternoon in the Umbrian town of Orvieto. Dating back to Etruscan times, Orvieto is perched on a tufa hill that rises well above the surrounding plain, so was protected naturally from invaders. The huge Gothic Cathedral dominates the center of the town, which is reached by a funicular and bus. Lots of shops, especially those selling local pottery, caught our eye and our wallet. Gelato there was excellent. A local guide took us into the cathedral to see the Signorelli frescoes dating back to the 1400-1500s. Then we explored two of the tufa caves under the city which are open to the public. There are many, many other caves running under the buildings of the town, many of which are now used as wine cellars. Our day finished with a delicious dinner in Pienza in the historic center.
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