Orvietto

The big outting of the weeknd was to Orvietto, a small hilltop town about an hour from Castiglione Fiorentino. As we learned during a tour of the caverns, the town is resting atop a geologic formation of volcanic ash. The ancient ash was compressed into a rock, which the Romans discovered makes a wonderful cement. The area was probably settled for safety reasons, and later the cement product was discovered. The old caverns were used for centuries to press olive oil. Eutruscan wells were found, which extend from the surface down to the clay lens at the bottom of the formation.



The town is famous for its cathedral made of black and white marble, and it wonderul artesan crafts. The ceramics were beautiful.



Of course, because this is Tuscany, Orvietto is famous for it's white Orvietto Special Vino Bianco Seco (Orvietto Dry white wine). And the food? Pictures speak for themselves!




Being at the top of a giant tufa formation, the views are incredible.





Below is another tufa formation, the same material Orvietto sits upon. Most of the crops you see are wine, olive, sunflower, and wheat.