Orvieto is a city located on the flat top of a large volcanic tuff hill. The city rises dramatically above nearly vertical tuff walls complemented by defensive walls built of the same stone.
The cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture, commemorates the Eucharistic miracle of Bolsena. Built in 1290 by Arnolfo di Cambio, it features a magnificent façade completed in the 16th century. Inside, the chapels of San Brizio and the corporal are unmissable. The church of Sant'Andrea, completed in the 13th century, and that of San Giovenale, with a massive bell tower, are examples of Romanesque architecture. The People's Palace, a 12th-century Romanesque-Gothic building, and St. Patrick's Well, 62 meters deep with spiral staircases, are other attractions.
Orvieto has a thousand-year history which can be best appreciated in its vast system of underground cavities.