Orvieto Friday June 6th

I had wanted to go to Cartona on Friday, because they were having their medieval festival (this is the city from Under the Tuscan Sun).. but Cartona is tricky.. The last train is 7pm ish.. and most things don't start until 7 or 9 pm.. so really the only way to enjoy it is to stay there..  Also its tricky to get to the train,  so I decided not to go..  

I was talking to Bridgette and she said she liked Orvieto.  This was an Umbrian hilltop town.. (which I was entranced by when driving in from Rome) and it was about 1.5 hours away. When you arrive you take a funicular from the train station to the hilltop town, so getting up there, is not a big deal.   

So after I took the short funicular ride, I got to the top of the hill and went to a park that had awesome views. here are few: 

park Entrance

was trying to capture the side of the cliff to see the rocks.  

Throughout Orvieto the city was built with pumice like volcanic rock. 

I stopped on the Corso Italia for Lunch to try to famous Orvieto wine. It was really good and refreshing.. 

I also had Orvieto Sausage so good.. and a tomato salad. 

I ended the meal with fresh strawberries and cream.

I went on to look around the town.   I saw a church that had the seals on it again.. The seals tell the story of the town.  Many of the towns in Tuscany have a Florence shield to show their occupation of Medici family of the region. 

See the seals on the church in the Piazza. 

Next I went to the Passe de Cave. This was a giant well that was built by a Pope to protect the city from warring factions.  Generally you don't attack a town that has good clean water, you want them as your friend.. 

Translation of the well inscription. 

St. Patrick's Well

There were also Etrusian trash pits that told about the life of early settlers.  

Walking down through the city there were narrow streets and cute passageways filled with stores.

It was difficult to find the Duomo its off the beaten path the left and the town was filled with American Tourists lost and wandering around.  I am realizing that I am getting better at navigating. Its huge so when you find it, you are like "duh!!" 

There is no such thing as a simple church in Italy.. and this one may be one of my favorites. 

The sides of each door are doors designed in the 60's by a sculpture/painter Emelio Greco. 

To Give you a sense of perspective..that is me in Front..
 

I looked at the Duomo, the Emilio Greco Museum, and the Papal Collection.  

you could not take pictures inside of any of them.. but they were a sight to see.  Here is someone who published a page of pictures: http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/italy/orvieto/cathedral/duomo.html

The Emilo Greco museum was small but great. His museum was attached because he designed the metal doors of the Duomo in the 60's. but his work was much more about the human form, and I really enjoyed them.  They were sensual but not sexual. and found it interesting that this museum was a combo ticket with a church..   https://www.google.com/search?q=emilio+greco&es_sm=91&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KyGUU-quCaqQ0AW3zoDYCA&ved=0CKkBEIke&biw=1991&bih=1099

The papal collection was a lot of frescos and paintings but pictures were not allowed. 

after visiting these museums I decided I should come back down the hill to the funicular.  

I ran across a park called Anello della rupe that was totally empty but with amazing views.  I was there all by myself so it was a nice contemplative moment. 

As I left the park with its pretty flowers,  i heard the school across the street let out for the year. That level of joy is apparent in any language! 

I continued my walk to the funicular and got a few pictures as we descended the hill. 

When I got the bottom of the hill, i realized I had read the train schedule wrong and had two hours to kill.. so I decided to have an afternoon snack and found this great and friendly local bar and pasterierie. 

I took the train back to Arezzo.. and when I arrived I was sooo tired.. it had been a hot and long day..  but I stopped in Piazza San Francesco for a drink and apertivo (which became dinner)..   and they were having an Opera concert for free.. Arezzo is a fun little town.