Enjoying a cup of coffee and a beautiful morning view of the valley from our kitchen window. Today is the day our friends – Mary & Ben Wright, Cheryl & Roy Donkin – arrive from Roma… we are so excited! They are training from Termini station to the beautiful fortress town of Orvieto. Roughly a two-hour train ride from Roma and a 45 minute drive from Paciano, Orvieto sits about a thousand feet above the valley. The view while approaching this town is brilliant!

The train station sits in the valley and the car rental is conveniently located across the street! So easy!! Across the street from the train station is the funicular, which will get you within a 10-minute walk to the city center. There is ample parking at the top and an easy drive, but today is all about the funicular! We are meeting at the train station (free parking, yay!) and have our picnic basket at the ready. The train just pulled in and there they are!! Let the fun begin Rental car secured and parked, we are off to the funicular. Once at the top, we take a leisurely stroll through town on our way to the Duomo. Just beyond the piazza is a beautiful park with a magnificent view that is the perfect complement to our picnic consisting of some meats, cheese, fruit, bread, sweets and of course, vino. The “gatti” of Orvieto are happy to join us We never get tired of the stupendous view of the valley from this location! Next stop is the cathedral (Duomo) and its amazing facade, which is directly behind us. So glad to have a professor and religious scholar (Ben) with us to share his knowledge and expertise. The exterior facade is stunning. There are four pillars that depict the story of Creation and end with the Last Judgement. Can’t wait to explore the interior and view the Signorelli frescoes in the Chapel of San Brizio. Amazing. Orvieto is such a beautiful town, with amazing ceramic shops, lovely artisan galleries (one of my favorite ceramic shopping locations), cute tucked-away gardens, and of course, outdoor cafes. Another great town for people-watching. So much to see, allow yourself to explore it slowly, savor it, and leave something to see for your next visit.

Time to head back to Paciano and get everyone settled. We thought dinner at home after a long day would be perfect. Perhaps a stroll through town, aperetivo in the garden and a home cooked dinner would be the perfect ending to a great day. Ben, Mary, Roy, Cheryl… we are so happy you are here