Sat high on a hill of volcanic tufa, the silhouette of its renowned Duomo visible for miles, Orvieto is a car-free haven accessible accessible via the funicular that runs from the railway station below up to the old town centre, passing directly by the Albornoz fortress.

The highest vantage point in town is the 13th century Torre del Moro, but the heart of Orvieto is undoubtedly the Piazza del Duomo, onto which the stunning façade of the Duomo looks down upon. This dazzling masterpiece of gothic architecture is famous for its polychrome marble inlays and beautiful mosaics; its interior contains important works of art, such as Luca Signorelli’s fresco cycles depicting the Antichrist, Armageddon, the Resurrection of the Flesh, the Chosen and the Reprobates, along with a spectacular Last Judgement in the San Brizio Chapel.

Etruscan remains testify to the age of Orvieto and its importance even before Roman rule. These include the Necropoli del Crocifisso del Tufo burial ground at the base of the plateau on which the city stands, and the underground passages beneath the city which were enlarged during the Middle Ages and which today almost form another city beneath Orvieto.

Don’t miss the city’s public art collection, divided between the Museo Claudio Faina, the Museo Archeologico and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.