What would you do if you arrived at 10:30 and were leaving at 6? We'll have our 12, 10 and 8 year olds with us. No museums - just fun. Is the Underground tour worth doing? Would you hike down the well (and if yes, how long would it take?) Would you rent bikes to explore just outside the city walls?
Thanks!
I'm not sure I'd ride the bikes - save that for Lucca - but everything else sounds great. Kids usually LOVE the cave tours. For a first-hand "visitor's" report on Orvieto, CLICK HERE
Hey! It's Ron in Rome! You're the one that got me turning my entire trip on its head because your article just called out to me - "Visit Orvieto! Visit Orvieto!!"
Thanks for your wonderful website. I've spent alot of time reading all your words of wisdom. Love love love the pictures!
Merritt,
Ron's link is excellent and should give you lots of possibilities.
I thought the Underground tour was interesting, as it covered a lot of the history of Orvieto including some more recent history.
St. Patrick's Well is also a very important part of the history, and it would probably be interesting to your children (as long as they're not claustrophobic!). The walk to the bottom and back could probably be done in 30-45 minutes if you're in a hurry. The double helix construction was an incredible achievement, considering when it was constructed.
The Duomo is definitely worth seeing, especially the ceiling frescoes at the end (to the right of the altar as I recall). The Frescoes tell a story, which I believe Rick details in the Italy book.
Of course, sampling some Orvieto Classico and some Gelato (not necessarily in that order) is also good. It's a fascinating town to just explore.
Happy travels!
