Day Trip from Rome to Orvieto

Lisa, this has been discussed a TON on this board, Find the search button on the upper right hand side and use a keyword - like Orvieto - to find more replies.

YES - this day trip is worth it. Take the train, it drops you off at the funicular, buy a ticket and ride up to Orvieto. Orvieto has beautiful vistas of the country side, a most beautiful Duomo that was just recently cleaned up on the outside (not much inside)and some great ceramic shopping.

It's a nice break from the noise of Rome, and it gives you a wonderful, easy to get to "real" hilltop town within a short train trip of Rome. GO.

you should also consider Ostia Antica as a day trip from Rome. One Metro ticket gets you there - you do need to change trains, but it's a great place to walk around - take a picnic lunch and enjoy the day.

Hi, Lisa,

This is a must! My wife and I did this last month. Take the train to Orvieto and then cross over to buy a ticket for a tram ride up the mountain and then -- same ticket -- catch the bus on to the heart of the city; you get off in front of the church.

Visit the church but also wander the streets! We purchased a wooden, hand-carved Pinocchio made there in a little shop. Also liked a shop that makes its own paper!

Purchase a return bus-tram ticket at a small bar near the church and nearer the tourist center office -- they are good for 90 minutes. Also be sure to go to the "look out" spot near there for a great view from high up!

Buy your return train ticket after you get to the small train station as you may not know for sure which train you will be there for. And the platform for the return train ride is not the one on which you arrive but on past that (we almost waited at the wrong spot!).

Have fun!

Lisa,

Failed to mention that we used Ron Phillips as a personal guide one day and he is great...and extremely helpful. He not only is a great guide (he and wife are Americans who now live in Rome) but also helped orient us to the public transportation. He even met us as the nearest Metro stop (they live in the Vatican area where our hotel was) and rode with us to the train station to show us how to buy train tickets from the machine. Nice guy.

And his website, http://roninroma.com/home, is helpful too.

Yes do it and contrary to what other posters have said about the interior of the Duomo I found it stunning. The author of this website did as well.
http://www.fmschmitt.com/travels/Italy/umbria/Orvieto/OrvietoDuomo2.html
The exterior panels that surround the entry aren't half bad either. Find the story of Adam and Eve. Damn apple. Lovely town. Great day trip.

I agree with the other posts. And yes the duomo is worth the visit and like Rick suggests, buy the ticket for the Chapel of St. Brizio, which also includes entry to the Museo dell'Opera. Here's another RS hint if you are going to see several of Orvieto's sites, the Carta Unica comb-ticket. And if your time permits and your legs/heart/lungs can take it, St. Patricks Well is different. If you happen to be there in the evening, you'll get to experience a great passaggiata.

Take a look at "Travel Slow in Itay & Stay in Orvieto" at www.travelbite.co.uk

I agree with all re: Orvieto- and for a kick read "The Lady In the Palazzo" by Marlena De Blasi- it's the sequel to "A thousand days in Tuscany" which was a sequel to "A thousand Days in Venice"- all good romantic "trips" in Italy!
Enjoy!

Your responses have been a HUGE help to me. Based on your feedback, Orvieto is now a MUST-SEE town on my trip. Thank you so much!