ORVIETO

Orvieto is a city in southwestern Umbria. The phalanxes of high-season tourists who crowd into Orvieto are drawn first and foremost by the magnificent duomo, one of Italy's finest Gothic buildings. Started in 1290, the cathedral was originally planned in Romanesque style, but eventually Gothic features were also incorporated into the structure. Next to the cathedral, in the Palazzo dei Papi, is the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, which houses a clutter of religious relics from the cathedral, as well as Etruscan antiquities and works by artists such as Simone Martini and three Pisano's: Andrea, Nino and Giovanni. Head along Via del Duomo to Corso Cavour and you'll see the stout Torre del Moro, which you can climb for sweeping, pingeon-eye views of the city. You can continue west for Piazza della Repubblica, where you'll stumble upon the 12th-century Chiesa di Sant'Andrea and its curious octagonal bell tower. As with many Italian churches, it was built over a Roman structure, which in turn had incorporated an Etruscan building. You can see the ancient foundations in the crypt. The piazza, once Orvieto's Roman forum, is at the heart of what remains of the medieval city. The city of Orvieto has long kept the secret of its labyrinth of caves and tunnels that lie beneath the surface. Dug deep into the tuff, a volcanic rock, these hidden and secret tunnels are only now open to view through guided tours. Their spectacular nature has also yielded many historical and archeological finds. The underground city boasts tunnels, galleries, wells, stairs, quarries, cellars, unexpected passageways, cisterns, superimposed rooms with numerous small square niches, detailing its creation over the centuries. Many of the homes of noble families were equipped with a means of escape from the elevated city during times of siege through secret escape tunnels carved from the soft rock. The tunnels would lead from the city palazzo to emerge at a safe exit point some distance away from city walls. The Etruscan produced wine in the district, the Romans continued the tradition, and today the Orvieto Classico wines are among the country's most popular. You can visit 17 vineyards and sample the produce.