Our most recommended things to do in Orvieto

Assisi & Orvieto Day Trip from Rome

1. Assisi & Orvieto Day Trip from Rome

Escape Italy's busy capital for one day on this trip to Assisi and the Umbrian hill town Orvieto. On this tour, you will unveil the religious architecture of Umbria (such as the famous Cathedral of Orvieto) and discover the wines and local products of Tuscany. Leaving Rome in a northerly direction and driving along the Tiber Valley, reach Orvieto as your first stop, a small town of Etruscan origins where you will stop to admire the magnificent 14th century cathedral, a masterpiece of gothic architecture. The tour continues through the green Tuscan Hills covered in olive groves and vineyards. This is the land of some of Italy’s best known D.O.C. (quality controlled) wines, which include Orvieto, Chianti and Brunello di Montalcin. Afterwards, enjoy lunch, consisting of traditional local dishes. In the early afternoon you will continue your journey and drive along the shores of Lake Trasimeno. Finally, reach Assisi, which is located at the foot of Mount Subasio. Assisi is famous for being St. Francis' birthplace. You will see the Church of St. Claire, St Francis’ birthplace and his childhood home, the Townhall Square. Around the Townhall Square, you will see the People’s Palace and the Roman Temple dedicated to Minerva. One highlight of the tour will be the visit of St Francis’ Basilica, located close to the ancient city walls, with its magnificent frescoes painted between the 12th and 14th centuries. You will reach Rome around 19:30/20:00, where you will be dropped-off in the vicinity of your hotel.

Orvieto: Pozzo della Cava Entry Ticket

2. Orvieto: Pozzo della Cava Entry Ticket

Visiting this centuries-old well in Orvieto will open up the history of the ancient inhabitants' ways of life, from their Etruscan beginnings, through the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance and beyond. The underground cave complex consists of nine caverns for you to explore. You’ll find countless Etruscan, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts preserved by the underground complex running beneath the medieval streets of the Cava neighborhood.  Start at the oldest part of the Pozzo della Cava, with its cistern lined with cocciopesto plaster, where you’ll discover artifacts such as ancient Etruscan burial remains. Next, descend into the hypogeum maze of Urbs Vetus (Orvieto’s medieval name) to discover the intricacies of the houses’ three-story basements.  The final part of the complex displays developments from the Renaissance, when the most recent parts of the Pozzo della Cava were excavated. Marvel at the impressive final cave, which preserves traces of the transformations carried out over a period of twenty-eight centuries.

From Rome: Orvieto & Civita Bagnoregio Coach Tour

3. From Rome: Orvieto & Civita Bagnoregio Coach Tour

First, get picked up from your hotel in central Rome or head to the meeting point in the city center. Board the coach and depart at 8 AM, setting off towards the ancient city of Bagnoregio in the Province of Viterbo in central Italy.  When you arrive, take a stroll around Civita di Bagnoregio which was founded by Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago. The town is noted for its striking position on top of a plateau between the two valleys called Fossato del Rio Torbido and Fossato del Rio Chiaro. Find out about how the settlement is also known as the 'dying town' and was historically accessed by a single road that led from the Tiber valley to Lake Bolsena.  Then, stop for a delicious lunch at a local Italian restaurant. In the afternoon, continue the tour to Orvieto, another small town of Etruscan origins where you can admire the magnificent 14th-century cathedral, a masterpiece of gothic architecture. Visit the remarkable Pozzo di San Patrizio, a historic well that was built by architect-engineer Antonio da Sangallo the Younger of Florence in the 16th Century.  Finally, return to Rome where you will be dropped off at the meeting point in the city center.

Orvieto: City Card with Nine Local Landmarks

4. Orvieto: City Card with Nine Local Landmarks

Immerse yourself in Italy's historic city of Orvieto with a single-pass ticket to all of its best museums and attractions. Explore ceramics and bronze items excavated from the area, on view at the National Archaeological Museum. Glimpse the city's spiritual history at Orvieto Cathedral. See the vast complex that winds under the ancient quarter of Orvieto at the Well of the Quarry, and explore the foreboding Crocifisso del Tufo, an Etruscan necropolis that owes its name to a crucifix engraved in the tuff inside a rock chapel. By purchasing the Single Card, you're also entitled to discounts at other attractions.

Orvieto: 2-Hour Cathedral and Underground Tour

5. Orvieto: 2-Hour Cathedral and Underground Tour

Start your tour in front of the amazing facade. Listen to your guide as they share plenty of information about the mosaics, the sculptures and the history of the church before taking you inside the huge building. Visit every part of the church, with a special focus on the beautiful San Brizio chapel, decorated by the Renaissance artist Luca Signorelli. Take a walk in the heart of Orvieto to the underground area of Pozzo della Cava to discover the hidden part of the city. Here your guide will teach you how the rooms were used throughout history, and you will look down into the impressive 36-meter deep Etruscan well. After your underground tour, walk to the edge of the city. From the top of the cliffs, admire stunning views on the rolling hills covered with vineyards and olive trees, and see the medieval town. A short walk throug picturesque little alleys will take you back to Piazza Duomo, where your tour ends.

Orvieto: Private Walking Tour with the Cathedral of Orvieto

6. Orvieto: Private Walking Tour with the Cathedral of Orvieto

Step back in time as you explore the streets of Orvieto with a local guide on this walking tour. Uncover the ancient origins of this town. Let your guide reveal how history has shaped the art and architecture of this town. Meet your guide in amid the palace, tower, and cathedral in Piazza del Duomo. Stroll to the 14th-century Gothic Cathedral of Orvieto. Enter the cathedral to admire the vibrant and colorful frescoes and mosaics inside. Head to the historic well of Pozzo di San Patrizio to view its two helical ramps that are in a double helix shape. Hear the facinating story behind this well from your local guide. Climb to the top of the medieval Torre del Moro tower. Admire stunning views of the town, the cathedral, and the surrounding countryside.

Rome: Assisi and Orvieto Day Tour

7. Rome: Assisi and Orvieto Day Tour

The mystic town of Saint Francis, surrounded by its ancient walls, was built on the green slopes of Mount Subasio and with its colorful houses of stone, narrow streets, flowering balconies and noble palaces provide beautiful views for memorable pictures (do not forget your camera). An interesting visit to St. Francis Basilica, with its early Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue, and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Then the tour continues to Orvieto, where you can admire a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with a glistening façade of stained glass, mosaics and sculptures. Soak up Orvieto’s charm and admire the countless churches that are scattered around its center. Back to Rome, drop off at your hotel.

Orvieto: Guided Walking Tour of Underground Orvieto

8. Orvieto: Guided Walking Tour of Underground Orvieto

Orvieto stands out on a tuff hill, showing off its jewels, first of all the wonderful Duomo. Under it, however, inside, another city is hidden and preserved, dug over the centuries through the volcanic rock. Walking through the streets of the city, we will discover two unique architectural jewels. The first is the Pozzo della Cava: this is a complex from the Etruscan era with various hypogeal environments and a well dug into the tuff rock on which the city rests. This has a depth of 36 meters and has unique features that we will discover in detail. The second stop of the visit that we will reach with a short walk is the famous Well of St. Patrick: this water structure dates back to the sixteenth century and had the dual function of water supply in case of disaster but also a refuge in case of attack. Designed by Antono da Sangallo il Giovane, it has the peculiarity of having a double staircase whose access is guaranteed by separate doors that allow for totally separate access flows. 54 meters deep, this engineering jewel will be the highlight of this exciting guided tour.

Orvieto: 2-Hour Small Group Tour

9. Orvieto: 2-Hour Small Group Tour

Your city tour will start from Piazza Cahen at 10:45. If you come by car, you can park your car below the railway station at Piazzale della Pace and then from there, you can use escalators for getting to the funicular which is the most typical and easy way to go up to your meeting point. If you arrive to Orvieto by train, as soon as you get out of the station, you will find the funicular station just in front of you. So take the funicular and as soon as you get it off, turn to the right. Your guide will be waiting for you at the little coffee shop stand just to the side of the funicular. From there, you will start getting immersed in the old Etruscan history of the city by seeing the remains of Belvedere Temple. Close by, you will also find Saint Patrick’s well (64 meters deep, 246 steps down to the ground), an impressive engineering work dating back to the 16th century. During that time, Orvieto was used by popes, in case of danger in Rome such as an attack, as a place to refuge. In order to ensure a water supply to the city, a pope wanted to build a double helix designed flight of steps around the proper well to be able to reach the bottom bridge, where people and donkeys could get jugs of water. To dig that deep in the ground it was such hard labor that Italians still say when referring to a hard task that it is like “digging Saint Patrick's well.” The well was located in the papal fortress of the city unfortunately destroyed after the unification of Italy when Orvieto stopped being under papal control. From the fortress, you will enjoy a lovely view of the countryside and the new town of Orvieto. After a nice walk slightly uphill, you will reach the cathedral which is one of the most stunning churches of Italy. Famous for its façade mosaics, it preserves a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance painting by Luca Signorelli, the Chapel of San Brizio. Signorelli managed to reflect in his Day of Judgment and Life after Death stories of the turbulent political and religious atmosphere of his age. His frescoes were so well-known that even Michelangelo studied them before doing his famous work at the Sistine Chapel in Rome. After the cathedral tour, you will have a nice walk to the medieval old squares through typical alleys which seem to have kept the mysteries and secrets of medieval life.

From Rome: Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio Private Day Trip

10. From Rome: Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio Private Day Trip

Picking you up at your hotel in Rome at 08.00 am., will drive you for a private 8 hours tour to Civita di Bagnoregio (1.40 hr far from Rome) and Orvieto. Once at Civita, you will have to walk for 7-8 mnts on the pedestrian Bridge (€5 each to enter) before arriving to this little town that being on a sinking vulcanic Hill, will disappear in the Next future. From here will drive for 30 more minutes, to Orvieto, old Etruscan/medieval town, where you will have lunch (not included in the rate) and will walk around to visit its gothic Style Cathedral (€5 entrance fees), visit the underground Etruscan city possibility (€8 each) and go for wine tasting and ceramic stuff shopping. Back to Rome in the afternoon around 04.00 pm.

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What people are saying about Orvieto

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 209 reviews

Katherine and Federica were an excellent tour guide. It was just the my grandma and I, the transportation was a leather seat van, very comfortable. Katherine was very attentive and patient, informative and professional. I highly recommend this tour if you don’t like a big group of people in your tour.

What a wonderful day we had! Paola and Gianlucca were so friendly and informative. Gianlucca was a great driver and met all of our needs. Paola was able to tell us so much history. Andres was a very knowledgeable tour guide in Assisi. I highly recommend this tour.

Great day trip outside the city of Rome. Two charming towns with plenty of things to visit, and great restaurants. Paulo was excellent and the local guide as well. Highly recommend as a change to the city’s buzzle

Excellent trip, I would say perfect. Cristina is a very good guide. Delicious lunch, and the driver Lucca drives very safely. Beautiful Assisis and Orvieto Recommended 100%

Juliana and Roberto were great. Juliano was extremely conversant and knowledgeable concerning our tour sites. We would not hesitate to book another tour.