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Day trip from Rome-Orvieto or Spoleto?

We are using Rome as a base for 5 days and have been there previously before heading down to Naples. What day trips would you consider? I was thinking of either Orvieto or Spoleto? Frascati? I welcome any suggestions.

Thank you.

Posted by
2455 posts

Christine, I loved Orvieto, but don't know the others to compare. Orvieto is about a 70-minute train ride from Rome Termini, plus some time up the short funicular and bus or walk up to the center of the old town. Lots to see and do in Orvieto. You don't say what month you will be visiting. One of the problems with day trips is that if you just go for the heart of the day, especially during a high tourist season, then you only see the town when it is very crowded with day trippers. Small towns are often most magical and special, I think, in the early morning and evening, when things are much quieter, often misty and romantic, and not filled with visitors. For this reason, I would suggest a day trip that lasts into the evening, with dinner, and then get a later train back to your home base and hotel. You will have several evenings in Rome, so spend one in a wonderful, very old and beautiful small town like Orvieto. Of course during the winter, days are shorter, "evening" starts earlier, and crowds are much smaller.

Posted by
11613 posts

I agree with Larry, if you choose Orvieto be sure to visit the oldest church in town, San Giovenale, which reopened in June after three or four years of restoration to its frescoes.

Posted by
7737 posts

Haven't been to Spoleto, but I'm a huge fan of Orvieto. We were there in May 2011.

Here are some photos and video clips I took, if you want to get a taste: Orvieto May 2011

Posted by
3586 posts

Between Orvieto and Spoleto, I'd choose Orvieto. The duomo is stunning. If you go, be sure to pay the extra fee to enter the chapel with the frescoes by Luca Signorelli. There is a small museum next to the duomo with some good Etruscan artifacts. There is an underground site, a medieval well, that can be visited (haven't done that). There are the picturesque streets of the historic center to poke around. A perfect day trip.

Posted by
7737 posts

Quirite, both Frascati and Viterbo do seem quite charming (and I've put them on my list to check out), but Viterbo looks to be about the same distance by train from Rome as Orvieto, or am I missing something?

Posted by
124 posts

Thanks, all. I will be visiting in November when all the tourists will be gone, hopefully.

Posted by
7737 posts

Quirite, the more I look into Viterbo, the more appealing I find it. What a beautifully preserved medieval hilltop town! And there appear to be some good daytrips from there as well (e.g. Civita di Bagnoreggio and Villa Lante in Bagnaia). Since I already have my 2015 itinerary set, looks as if I'll have to put this in the hopper for 2017. Thanks for the tip!