Orvieto

So last Saturday Andy, Reid and I packed into our friends' Nissian Micra (yes the name indicates the size) and headed north to a small city called Orvieto.  As we ascended to the medieval walled city I thought  "this looks just like Italy!"  We first toured the Duomo Cathedral which has intricate carvings portraying Genesis, Jesse's Tree, Scenes from the New Testament and the Last Judgement.  As I stood there like the typical tourist staring straight up with my mouth wide open it occurred to me that this was probably the intention. (Get people to stop what they are doing and look to heaven for a minute!)  

  Next we toured St Patrick's Well.  So cool!  There are 2 spiral staircases, lit by 72 windows that ascend and desc

end without ever touching.  And the acoustics are crazy!  Andy and Ryan could be 3 spirals away (if that makes any sense) and could hear what Kate and I whispered.

 

The last and probably my favorite part was underground Orvieto.  So apparently there are over 15oo caves that run under the city and connect with the houses above.  The Etruscans (which pre-dated even the ancient Romans...) first dug caves in search of water.  Later the city was razed by the Romans.  In the middle ages its popula

tion again grew because of its easily defensible position.  The caves were again used, but this time for different purposes.  People would live above ground and work below to avoid taxes.  They also raised pigeons in these caves which was a main source of protein for the people.  That night we ate dinner in one of the caves that they converted into a restaurant. 

 

And Reid. . . an angel all day!  He toured all around with us and did not complain once.  But really how could he . . .eating gelato three times that day kept him very happy :)