Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto, the pearl of the southwestern region of Umbria, is a town and municipality in the Italian province of Terni. The city of Orvieto is nestled in a valley, right where the rivers Chiani and Palia flow. The ancient part of the city is located on a flat hill built of volcanic ash. Only 96 km south of Orvieto is the capital of Italy - Rome. The city of Orvieto has a train station that serves rail from Rome to Florence. One of its advantages is its location - Orvieto is halfway between the Eternal City and the Medici city. Orivia is just the place for anyone who wants to see something beautiful near the two Italian beauties of Rome and Florence.
The history of Orvieto began to be written in the Etruscan era, when the ancient city of Volsini Veterez was inhabited, but some modern scholars differ in their theories. One thing is for sure - Orvieto was certainly a major center of Etruscan civilization. Today in the Archaeological Museum you can see an exhibition of Etruscan artifacts, which were found in the immediate vicinity of Orvieto and testify to such a presence in these lands. An interesting artifact that could show the complexity of ethnic relations in ancient Italy is the inscription on the tomb in the necropolis of Orvenito Caninella: "I am on Avila Catatina". It is believed that the first name is of Etruscan-Latin origin, and the surname is of Celtic origin.
It is the turn of the Roman era in the development of Orvieto. The city was annexed by Rome in the III century BC. Due to its strategic location on a high, steep tuff hill, the city was almost impregnable. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city turned from a defensive center into a religious center - the episcopal see was moved to Orvieto from Bolsena. Orvie began to be ruled by Goths and Lombards before the self-governing commune was established in the tenth century, in which consuls ruled under a feudal oath of allegiance to the bishop. Pope Benedict VII visited the city of Orvieto at the same time, accompanied by his nephew Filippo Alberici, who later settled there and became consul of the city-state in 1016. By the 13th century, three papal palaces had been erected in Orvieto. The territory of Orvieto remained under papal control long before its official addition to the papal state - sometime before 1860, after which it became part of a united Italy.
Orvieto, perched on an inaccessible rock, controls the road between Florence and Rome. Its municipal institutions were recognized by an official document in 1157. Unfortunately, in the thirteenth century, severe hostilities divided the city, which was at its peak - population, importance, wealth.
Orvieto became one of the greatest cultural centers of its time when Thomas Aquinas began teaching there. A small university was given to the city by Pope Gregory IX in 1236. After teaching in Orvieto, Thomas Aquinas was called to Rome in 1265 to serve as the papal theologian of the newly elected Pope Clement IV and as regent teacher at Santa Sabina studium provinciale - predecessor of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Speaking of the main attractions in Orvieto, it would be logical to focus on:
1. Duomo - the Cathedral of Orvieto
On November 15, 1290, Pope Nicholas IV laid a cornerstone for the current building and dedicated it to the Assumption - a holiday for which the city has a long history of special devotion. The design is attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, but in fact the prevailing claim is that the master was a monk named Fra 'Bevignate from Perugia. The church is in white travertine and greenish-black basalt in narrow strips, somewhat reminiscent of Siena Cathedral and other central Italian cathedrals of that era. Over the next decade, cathedral authorities called on Siena architect and sculptor Lorenzo Meitani to stabilize the building and redesign its facade. He expanded the place and planned two chapels, which were not completed after his death. The facade of the cathedral is particularly impressive and includes a remarkable sculpture by Lorenzo Meitani (from the 14th century). Inside the cathedral is the chapel of San Brisio, which is richly decorated with frescoes by Fra Angelico and the masterpiece of Luca Signorelli - with the Last Judgment (dating from 1449 - 1951). Orvieto Cathedral has five bells.
2. Palace of the Popes
From the 11th century onwards, the papal presence in Orvieto, and throughout Italy, increased considerably. Along with his court, the pope moved from palace to palace, just like his European secular counterparts. Several central Italian cities have hosted the pope and his entourage over the years. Outside of Rome, only Orvieto and Viterbo, a Palace of the Popes was built. Pope Hadrian IV (1154-1159) was the first pope to spend considerable time in Orvieto. His successor, Pope Innocent III (1198-1216), was a militant opponent of the Cathar era. He infiltrated the city and took steps to eradicate this heresy. In 1227, Pope Gregory IX confirmed the school of theology in Orvieto, which was one of the first in Europe. Pope Urban IV (1261-1264), a Frenchman who spent most of his papacy in Orvieto, also left important legacies in the city. In 1263 he began construction of the second papal palace and consecrated the new Dominican church in Orvieto. Pope Nicholas IV chose Orvieto as the seat of the Curia in 1291-1292, making the meeting of the Curia in Orvieto a tradition. He is rewarded by the locals.
His successor, Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303), continued his close papal relationship with Orvieto. Although often criticized by historians for greed, the people of Orvieto gladly responded and accepted the pope's generosity. They revered Boniface highly and gave him what he deserved, just as he did his predecessor. Pope Boniface built the third and last Palazzo Papale, Palazzo Soliano. He placed his statues in the main city gates, which brought him strong criticism from his enemies. Benedict XI was the last pope to live in Orvieto. Over the years, from Nicholas IV to Benedict XI, Orvieto received the pope more often than Rome. That is why discussions continue over whether Rome should remain the papal city. Pope Nicholas V (1447-1455) supported the city. In 1449, the pope gave money for the restoration of the episcopal palace, which was originally a project of Nicholas IV. He also allowed Fra Angelico to start painting in the Cappella Nuova of the cathedral.
3. Artesian well Pozzo di San Patrizio
During the disintegration of Rome in 1527, Pope Clement VII took refuge in Orvieto. Fearing that in the event of a siege, the city's water may be insufficient, he ordered the construction of a spectacular 62-meter-deep well - St. Patrick's Well. The architect involved in this project is Antonio da Sangalo Jr. The central well is surrounded by ramps in a double spiral, similar to Saladin's well. Each of these ramps is designed for one-way traffic, so that the loaded mules can safely pass down and then climb unhindered.
4. Underground tunnel system 
The city of Orvieto has long kept the secret of its maze of caves and tunnels that lie beneath its surface. Carved deep into the volcanic rock, these secret tunnels are now open only for guided tours. Their remarkable nature has also yielded many historical and archaeological finds. Saint Anselm College has created a program in which students travel to Italy every summer to work at the college's archeological center, located on the place of the Coriglia excavations, just outside the city. The underground city boasts more than 1,200 tunnels, galleries, wells, stairs, quarries, cellars, corridors, cisterns, rooms with numerous small square niches for pigeons, which describe in detail its creation over the centuries. The tunnels start from the city palace and lead to a safe starting point, away from the city walls.
5. Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo 
The work about the construction of the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo began in the thirteenth century on a site that has been occupied since 1157 by the Papal Palace, built during the reign of Pope Hadrian IV. The original Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo was used as a marketplace or meeting place, as well as for the rostrum from which the rulers spoke to the citizens. This is the place where the surrounding lords or representatives of defeated cities came to prove their loyalty to Orvieto.
The Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo was expanded within ten years of its initial construction. In 1315 the bell tower was added. The upper part was covered in 1472, and the great hall was divided into two rooms - one large and one small. Later, the building began to function as the residence of the Capitano del Popolo, Podesta and Signori Sette.
From 1596 in one of the rooms at the bottom is the Studium, which was restored several years earlier by Lorenzo Magalotti. Students of law, theology and logic come here. Few records from this ancient university appear after 1651. Some sources indicate that it dates from 1013 and had connections with names such as the Benedictine monks Graziano and Gozio of Orvieto.
6. The Albornoz Fortress
In Piazza Cahen is the Albornoz Fortress. It was built by order of the Spanish Cardinal Albornos, who in turn received the order from Pope Innocent VI. It was designed by the military engineer Ugolino di Montemart. The Albornos Fortress is located on a site that was once occupied by a temple known by the Latin name Augurale.
Originally known as Rocca di San Martino, construction of this massive fortress began in 1359 near the city's cemetery. Its purpose is to provide the church with a secure place in the city and to allow the cardinal and his captains to consolidate recent military victories. In its original plan, the Albornos fortress was surrounded by a small building near the main entrance and surrounded by a moat crossed by a drawbridge. However, Rocca di San Martino was almost completely destroyed to the ground in 1395 and successive attempts to rebuild it were unsuccessful. The fortress was finally rebuilt in the middle of the 15th century, using original plans and an additional circular line of fortifications.
Other interesting sights in Orvieto that are worth seeing are: 
- San Giovenale - built in 1004, probably above an existing church. This is the oldest church in Orvieto. It is characterized by its decoration of numerous frescoes from the XIII century; 
- San Domenico - one of the first Dominican churches; 
- San Francesco (1266) - former Franciscan church. 
Orvieto is also home to Etruscan ruins and the remains of a wall that surrounded the city more than 2,000 years ago. At the foot of the castle, surrounded by peach and apple trees and vineyards, the Etruscan necropolis contains a hundred stone tombs.