Tue 28.Jun.2016
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy
I hadn't been to Italy in years. Goodness knows there is a lot of that country that I've never seen. And
I had a few weeks before I needed to be in Bratislava, where I had a long-standing reservation. All of these
considerations merged into a cosmic shove, southward across the alps on the overnight train from Munich.
What kind of train is a Fugger-Express? It can hardly live up to a name like that. In any case, it was
parked on an adjacent track at Munich Main Station.
Orvieto is a
hill town.
Not just in the hills - the old city sits on top of a steep hill, whose cliffs merge with
the city walls. There is a less exotic, but more budget-friendly, modern part of the city around
the foot of the hill.
From the battlements, there is a lovely view of the rolling Umbrian countryside. This time of year, the rains keep
the hills green, and the skies grey.
Of the zillion books that a traveller could read for background on Italy,
none is more rewarding than The Italians by Luigi Barzini, Jr.
That is who I thought
was born in this house, according to the plaque on the wall. Not so fast! This refers to his father,
Luigi Sr., who supported the fascists, who actually banned Luigi Jr.! So OK, this is
Barzini's father's birthplace,
not the man himself. C'est la vie!
The whole time I was in Orvieto, the streets were flagged and ribbon'd is if for a holiday.
I never learned what Italian holiday might have been going on. I think it was Tourist Season.
Looked plenty festive anyway.
By medieval standards, this was probably an extravagantly wide street.
A corner of the duomo. Orvieto has a major cathedral, of which more in upcoming posts.
Late afternoon light beaming in under the day's storm clouds put a real glow on this traffic
roundabout in the lower city.
It is a good thing that I am accumulating photos only slowly here in Bratislava. Should give me time
to catch up some on Italy, Bohemia, and even Spain. For now I expect about two more pages from
Orvieto, followed by Firenze and Siena, not necessarily in that order.
Hasta then!