hi ! so as a first time travel to italy for a winer trip i've decided to add a stop to orveitto arriving later in the evening and staying 2 nights (this 2 night stay will then not allow time to see volterra) i've planned 1 evening arrival to orveitto and wondering what we can do in the evening.? also should we get the carta unica card for the one full day and how can we plan a logical path through the town. we thought of adding civit too since we have he full day and will be leaving the next morning. so sad to miss voltera but i dont want to rush in and out too fast or travel too late in the evening. thoughts ? also thoughts on the one day and when to see civiti? is bus very confusing..is taxi better? advice? ty!
Posted by
Washington DC
28453 posts
With only one day in Orvieto (and in the winter, so the day will be a short one), I would not trek to Civita di Bagnoregio. I don't remember the bus trip as being confusing, but I think the excursion will chew up a surprising amount of time. The bus will--at best--drop you off in Bagnoregio quite some distance from the causeway to Civita. I'm not actually sure that there are wintertime buses all the way to Bagnoregio; Cotral's website (only in Italian) isn't showing any schedules for the month of October that I can find. There are online references to a bus travel time of close to an hour, but I cannot confirm that since I can't locate a schedule.
Even if you can find a bus to Bagnoregio, you then must get a local bus or taxi (not sure how available they would be) or walk to the causeway. I think the walk took me at least 15 or 20 minutes. Then you must walk across the causeway, which is at least partially uphill (substantially so) to get to the little depopulated town, so that takes time, too. I'm not sure much will be open in Civita in the winter, either. Then you must reverse the process to get back to Orvieto.
Orvieto, by comparison, has a large historic district, a glorious cathedral (free, but do pay to see the chapel), at least two worthwhile museums and lots of good places to eat. I consider it much more interesting than Civita.
If you're willing to pay for a taxi all the way from Orvieto, that would save quite a bit of time. ViaMichelin says it's about 13 miles one way and the trip will take less than half an hour, but the taxi will not be able to drive across the causeway, so you'll still have that uphill walk to deal with. And you'll need to pay for the taxi's waiting time while you explore the town. It wouldn't be worth it to me even if I were not giving up time in the lovely town of Orvieto.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Two nights in Orvieto is just enough time to see the city. From the higher floors of the museum across the piazza from the Duomo, you can see the façade mosaics much closer than by looking up at them from the ground.
The TI office in the Piazza Duomo is excellent - they can help you plan a walking tour, with or without a guide. I don't know if the underground tour operates in the winter, but it is great. The church of San Giovenale (11th Century) has been restored inside over the last few years; from the little piazzetta in front of it, you have views of the valley around Orvieto. There are Etruscan ruins just outside the walls as well.
On Thursdays (and I think Saturdays) there is a market in one of the main squares. Dozens of good restaurants, a few great ones. Ruins of a castle, the well, all worth some time.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
thank you thats very insight and VERY helpful. I have rick steves 2017 italy book of which ive torn apart and written all over it so im busy researching but hearing form folks who have experienced it is so helpful. yes i saw the taxis but they are a bit pricy ..i contacted one taxi already at 90 euros for the trip with a 2 hour wait..that may even be a good rate. the taxi driver said he'd lower it if i wanted to wait 1.5 hrs too. so ill have to see..if we went via taxi to civit ..did the walk across the bridge .. i guess wed walk around the town then return? also.is the carta unica card a smart move for the one day? (yes ill pay to see the catherdal) would anyone cut this short by a night and try to squeeze in volterra? im torn..i guess this is why folks return..and my focus is stress free travel without too much rushing around. saying hello to people..strolling,,its part of it. thank you for your reply!
Posted by
OP
9 posts
thank you Zoe....yes, i think after looking close.. 2 nights is good...maybe well save volterra for another time :) looks like The guided tour of Orvieto Underground starts in Piazza Duomo nr 23. from 1st January to 31st December every day at 11.00; 12.15, 16.00; 17.15 (during periods of greater tourist attendance, every 15 minutes) closed 25th December..so yay for us!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Yes, I often see the groups waiting for the tours to start in Piazza Duomo. I try to stay at Hotel Virgilio, across the Piazza from the TI office. Love that hotel for its view of the Duomo from the rooms that face the Piazza.
Posted by
Northeast Ohio, USA
707 posts
DW and I had just 1 night in Orvieto last May, and would love to have had 2 nights, and thus one full day, to absorb the place. It is simply stunning with respect to both the architecture and the views, and we thought the pottery shops there (especially one on the cathedral piazza that featured green and gray colors) had the most beautiful pottery we saw in Italy. I never buy souvenirs, but that is going to change when we go back to Orvieto, and to that shop.