La Rupe Orvieto

December 7, 2009



Didn't know what to expect of Perugia, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. It actually have a very medieval feel to it. It sits atop a mountain and I can see why it was originally located here as one gets a very beautiful view of the valley below….and any wandering mauraders! Italy is on a 4 day holiday since the Feast of the Immaculate Conception falls on Tuesday. The ...

... centaines de grottes qui se trouve sous la ville. Ces grottes auraient ete creuse au tout debut, quelques 800 ans avant jesus. Puis elle n'aurait pas ete reutilise jusque dans les annes 1300 ou elles ont ete decouverte. depuis, les gens on commencer a les agrandir , tellement que cela a mis la stabilite de la ville au-dessus en danger. alors maintenant il y a des pilliers dans certaines grottes pour soutenir la ville.

We ended up in Orvieto sa we saw a friends photos of the catherdral and thought it was a must see. The cathedral was like a mini Florence Duomo, but 100% cleaner as the one in Florence is nearly black on the outside with pollution. The front facade on the cathedral is covered in beautiful gold leaf frescos that were glittering in the afternoon sunshine. Had a wander through the old town which was full of life as ...

... was not to be. A wander around the old town and its tiny Jewish ghetto - there was a population of around 400 Jews living here in the 16th century after all were banned from Rome by Pope Pius IV. Some of the best Etruscans ruins from 6BC were in the area so we hiked out of town to check them out. Mostly they consisted of carved out roads through the forested hills. There was also an ancient fountain. Not too exciting to look at but the walk itslelf was very nice :)

... Fireplaces
Wireless Internet Access Wireless
Fully Equipped Professional-Grade Kitchen
Outdoor Cooking Facilities
Laundry Room with Washer, Dryer and Iron
Outdoor Pool
Property Maintenance
Resort Privileges
Special Needs Facilities
Terraces for Al Fresco Dining

... refuge, Villa Torre del Falco, blends a modern and contemporary aesthetic with a traditional and rustic ideal to create an unconventional environment that is simultaneously chic, serene, and inspiring. The 4 hectare private grounds command numerous breathtaking vistas. Nestled atop the valley surrounding Lago di Vico, and bordering the medieval town of Ronciglione, the villaʼs landscape is steeped in Roman and Etruscan history.

We are planning a couple of days in Viterbo now.
Chance to look around this lovely town with its Medieval district and also to visit Villa Lante
This is us parked under the walls of the town

... is in walking distance of the thermal SPA, succulent tuscan restaurants and landmarks such as Fosso Bianco and Cascata della Balena.
Bagni san Filippo is placed between Monte Amiata and Val D'Orcia offering nearby destination for daily adventures!

After exploring Orvieto for half of a day, I wanted to find a town that was virtually untouched by tourism. I had heard of a small town called Civita that was nearby and was only accessible by a bridge. Not knowing exactly where it was, I packed up my bag, and took a bus to a nearby town and just started following signs. Fortunately, there were plenty of signs and I didn't get lost. However ...

... little regard for what's around the next bend. Suddenly, around a corner, we see a large village spreading up the mountainside in pinks, yellows and whites. It is Positano. It is so beautiful it makes you want to weep. We drive down the one way street into town. We are fortunate that we are here out of season, and easily find a place to park. Walking down to the beach, we pass ceramic shops and many tiny boutiques. Everything is very elegant ...