On this page you will find information and advice on what to see and visit in the area around Orvieto. A large area that, within a few kilometers, allows you to discover natural beauty, typical villages and unusual places and small museums. A territory that embraces three significant regions of central Italy: Umbria, Lazio (the Tuscia area) and the Tuscany lowlands.
PORANO – Only 5 km from Orvieto, just outside this little town you can visit the Hescanas Tomb: one of the very few Etruscan tombs with surviving original frescoes. It can only be visited upon reservation with a local guide.
Beside the tomb, the village of Porano also hosts the noble residences (medieval age) of Castel Rubello and Villa Paolina.
More information and guided visits: Associazione Acqua – www.poranoturismo.it
BASCHI – This little town is located only 15 km from Orvieto (direction Todi-Perugia) and hosts in its most ancient area, the Antiquarium, an exhibit of Roman findings discovered in the “Archaeological area of Scoppieto“ near the Corbara Lake where a large Roman furnace was discovered years ago.
Further evidence of the Roman presence in this area is the archaeological area know as the Roman port of Pagliano on the confluence of the river Paglia with the Tiber river. (This site is under mantaeinance and currently not accessible). The port was very important in the past for commercial trade between the area Rome and Ostia.
ETRUSCAN NECROPOLIS OF CALDANE & ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE OF CORIGLIA – Near the village of Castel Viscardo and Monterubiaglio about 15 kms from Orvieto, two important archaeological sites, the first, an etruscan necropolis dates back to the VI century BC. consists of about 40 single-chamber tombs of small dimensions located in the wood. Then, the area of Coriglia: a recently excavated archaeological site located near the ancient Tiberio natural therms on the way to what was once the old Roman road also known as “Traiana Nova”. The site has returned remains of noble residences and villas from the Roman era.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VOLSINII NOVI IN BOLSENA – Bolsena, a nice town in the Lazio region, located 20 kms far from Orvieto.
Bolsena and Orvieto have had a strong connection since Etruscan times, when the population of Velzna (Orvieto) was deported by the Romans in 264 BC to the shores of Lake Bolsena. The archaeological area of Volsinii Novi (New Velzna) is located at the beginning of the town of Bolsena, and shows remains of an ancient Roman town. The Museo Territoriale of Bolsena is located inside the Castle Rocca Monaldeschi and exposes several objects from different periods, including Etruscan and Roman.
Information: Simulabo – Tel: (+39) 0761.365565 – Email: coordinatore@simulabo.it
UMBRO ETRUSCAN NECROPOLIS OF VALLONE – Near the village of Montecchio, 25 km far from Orvieto, little Umbrian village also famous for its excellent olive oil production, visitors can admire an interesting Umbrian-Etruscan Necropolis called “del Vallone di San Lorenzo”.
This necropolis is formed by typical four-sided tombs with particular shapes. Many etruscan findings are exposed in the “Antiquarium” inside the old Palazzo Ancajani located in the town.
Information and visits: E-mail: montecchiostorianatura@gmail.com
ALLERONA – A medieval village about 15 km from Orvieto. Of the original castle today remain the ancient walls on which they open, the Porta del Sole (eastern access) and the Porta della Luna (western access). Of note in the village are the church of Santa Maria della Stella and the Palazzo Visconteo which originally belonged to the powerful Monaldeschi family from Orvieto and the Palazzo ex Dopolavoro today partly used as a permanent exhibition of the Pugnaloni (allegorical floats surmounted by a poplar tree adorned with ribbons in various colours, they reproduce scenes of life and work in the fields). The landscape around Allerona is rich in greenery and characterized by the presence of woods and parks. The beautiful Villa Cahen and the Villalba area are also included in this context. There are also numerous trails for mountain bikes and trekking.
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO – From Orvieto head towards Bagnoregio/Lubriano, two towns in the Lazio region, only a few kilometers from the border of Umbria. Once you arrive in Bagnoregio follow the signs to the village of Civita di Bagnoregio. Civita can only be reached on foot via a long panoramic bridge. Civita di Bagnoregio may be considered a true open-air museum. It is a pleasure to walk through its picturesque streets and ancient buildings. Don’t miss the Church of San Donato in the main square and the Museo Geologico e delle Frane (Geology Museum). Civita is a perfect place for a quiet, charming walk also enjoying the beautiful panorama of the valley of gullies that opens all around the village. The village has been replicated and used as a movie set, including “Pinocchio”. Read more info about how to reach Civita di Bagnoregio from Orvieto: https://www.orvietoviva.com/en/orvieto-civita-di-bagnoregio/
ROCCA RIPESENA – also known as the “village of roses” or ” the little Orvieto“, this tiny village a few km from the cliff of Orvieto is a graceful cluster of houses that rest on a tuff spur very similar, in small size, to that of Orvieto and that, like that of the city of the Duomo, was generated by the sedimentation of volcanic material.
From the village you can go up to the top of a small green park where you can enjoy a beautiful panorama. In addition to Rocca Ripesena there is also a garden with numerous and different species of roses from all over the world.
CELLENO – the ancient borough – A “ghost village” sits on a tufa rock and can be reached passing by the modern town. The story of this village has ancient origins since the Etruscans. For many aspects it is very similar to the most popular Civita di Bagnoregio (only with fewer visitors), and shows a dramatic beauty of its ruins and its buildings today fully abandoned. Not far from Celleno you can also visit the town of Sant’Angelo di Roccalvecce, famous for its painted houses. Celleno is about 30 minutes driving from Orvieto.
THE CONVENTO DELLA SCARZUOLA – Near the villages of Montegabbione and Montegiove there is the suggestive Convent of the Franciscan Scarzuola with adjoining artistic structure and allegorical sculptures of the “Ideal City” created by a famous italian architect and artist: Tommaso Buzzi. The Scarzuola can be visited only by reserved guided tours.
Information: info@lascarzuola.com
MONUMENTAL FOREST OF SASSETO – Located near the majestic castle of Torre Alfina (a nice village in the north of Lazio, 30 kms from Orvieto), this wood offers its visitors a unique and enchanted atmosphere with its extensive trails between boulders and rocks of all sizes and its majestic secular trees. In the quiet of the woods there is also the original Gothic-style Mausoleum of Edouard Cahen, an important rich family that possessed the castle.
VILLA CAHEN – Few kms from the town of Allerona, this nineteenth-century art nouveau style villa was built in 1880 by a wealthy financier Edouard Cahen of Anversa, who was in love with Italy and its landscapes. The property stretched for about thirty kilometers in circumference between a ridge and the Paglia river valley, in the area now known as the Selva di Meana. The villa has four large gardens (including a rare Japanese-style garden) and a terrace from which you can enjoy a wonderful panorama that opens over the entire upper valley of the Paglia river, Selva di Meana, and Monte Rufeno.
Information: Comune di Allerona – Tel (+39) 0763.628317
Open upon reservation
THE SAN VENANZO VOLCANOLOGICAL MUSEUM AND PARK – It consists of a series of nature trails along the perimeter of the ancient “bonsai volcanoes” and an exhibition center in the town center where minerals (including the “venanzite” stone typical and unique to this territory) and fossils of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals are displayed. Approximately 40 kms from Orvieto following the Monte Peglia direction.
Information: www.parcomuseovulcanologico.com
MONSTERS PARK (or Sacred Wood) of BOMARZO – This easy to reach town in Lazio is famous for its fantastic Monsters Park or Sacred Woods. From Orvieto take the A1 highway south and take the Attigliano/Bomarzo exit. It takes about 50′ driving. The park was created in 1552 in a large green area with trees and foot trails just out of the town of Bomarzo. Along these paths and under the cool shade of its giant trees is a succession of stone statues depicting mythological characters, animals and monsters. The park was created at the behest of the noble Orsini and statues sculpted by renowned architect Pirro Ligorio. The park is considered one of the most interesting and original “garden” in Italy.
Information – Tel (+39) 0761.924029
THE VIE CAVE OF PITIGLIANO AND SORANO – Less than an hour from Orvieto, in lower Tuscany the interesting “tuff cities” (Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana). They are small Tuscan villages that deserve to be visited for their characteristics and their history. But in particular, the famous Vie Cave are not to be missed: old paths dug into the tufa rock by the Etruscans with the aim of creating “passages and shortcuts” to move from one place to another. Of great historical and naturalistic interest, today there are several Vie Cave, (adequately signposted) easily accessible on foot and ideal place for trekking.
TIBER RIVER FLUVIAL PARK – A large unspoiled area around the Tiber River between Todi and Orvieto. It winds through the impressive “Gole del Forello” (Forello Gorge) and creates Corbara lake thanks to the artificial dam around the village of Corbara, a place where many sport fishermen also enjoy activities. Around this area you can also find interesting natural attractions such as the “Grotta della Piana” and the Fosso Campione creek. See more details here: https://www.orvietoviva.com/en/canyoning-forra-di-prodo/
BOLSENA LAKE – Just 20 kms far from Orvieto, Lake Bolsena is one of the most important lakes in Italy and the largest volcanic lake in Europe. It is characterized by clear bathing waters, tasty fish (do not miss to taste the local “coregone”) and two beautiful small islands called the Martana and Bisentina. Boat cruises on Bolsena lake are available during the warm seasons.
Boat excursions information: www.navigazionealtolazio.it – www.navigabolsena.com
THE MONTE PEGLIA & SELVA DI MEANA – Both parks are located about 30 minutes away from Orvieto and are fully equipped for pic-nics (Parco dei Sette Frati near Monte Peglia and Parco di Villalba inside the Selva di Meana). Here visitors can enjoy wonderful hikes along specific trails. Great for families and friends who want to barbecue and enjoy an easy day out on the green hills. Since the year 2018 the Monte Peglia park has been declared MAB/UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
OASI DI ALVIANO – A few kilometers from Orvieto, the oasis is a protected natural park managed by the WWF and home to numerous species of birds. The oasis is accessible by reservation with local guides. The area is a paradise for nature lovers and ideal for bird-watching experience.
Information: www.oasidialviano.org
TANE DEL DIAVOLO & THERMAL NATURAL PARK OF PARRANO – Parrano is about forty minutes from Orvieto. It was, in origin, a defensive fortress of Orvieto. The easiest way to reach Parrano is taking the A1 highway and exit in Fabro, then following signs to Parrano. In the village you then go north along the main road for about 1 km (this stretch coincides with the crossing of the two lakes), then take a dirt road on the left up to an abandoned farmhouse called Bagno where there is a small parking lot. From here the trail is equipped with pegs and ropes and allows visitors (experts, recommended local guides) to explore a series of natural karst caves carved on the walls of the gorge, “Tane del Diavolo”: an important natural and archaeological attraction with finds from the Third Century B.C. and the main cavity with a reservoir of mineral waters.
Information: info@comune.parrano.tr.it
The Museum of Geological Cycles and Fossil Whales – Allerona, about 20 km from Orvieto. Exhibition areas and display cases host prehistoric whale fossils and other Pliocene fossils.
Museo dell’Ovo Pinto, in the area above the Corbara Lake, in the scenic village of Civitella del Lago, a small original museum displaying painted eggs coming from artists of all over the world.
Museo del Fiore, a small naturalistic museum in the woods of the Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve in the enchanting village of Torre Alfina – Acquapendente, about 30 km from Orvieto.
Museo Territoriale e Acquario del Lago di Bolsena. At about 21 km from Orvieto, the museum is located in the picturesque castle of Monaldeschi and exhibits at the highest levels archaeological finds of Etruscan and Roman origin. While on the ground floor is the modern exhibition space of the Lake Bolsena Aquarium.
Museo Taruffi in Bagnoregio. About 20 km from Orvieto, a modern museum with a display of vehicles, original mechanical pieces, showcases, vintage radios.
Museo Geologico e delle Frane – placed in the heart of the village of Civita di Bagnoregio, just 20 km from the city of Orvieto, located in the central square of the village an interesting museum shows a cross-section of history and evolution of the landscape of the “calanchi”, the formation of the village, geological features and fossil exposure. The museum also organizes themed days and guided tours.
Bartolomei Olive Oil Museum. In Montecchio, about 20 ‘from Orvieto, it exhibits historical machinery for the production of olive oil.
Wine Museum of Castiglione in Teverina, a few km from Orvieto, a new modern and large museum (the largest in Europe with about 2000 square meters of exhibition area).
