Orvieto Underground and its Oil

The last stop of #aciascunoilsuofratoio in Umbria was Orvieto and its underground city, a real beauty.

Orvieto and the underground

The city of Orvieto is located on top of of a large butte of volcanic tuff. It really looks that the city is suspended by magic, enclosed in its massive defensive walls. It has ancient origins and has always played and important role, due to its position. It was one of the major Etruscan cities and later became part of the Papal States until Italy’s Unification.

There are several important buildings, testifying its glorious past, as the magnificent Duomo, entitled to the Assumption of the Virgin, great example of Gothic architecture. Every street is unique with tuff walls, ancient doors and flowered windows.

Another interesting thing to be visited is Orvieto underground, that is a city under the city. It was excavated by its inhabitants for over 2500 years thanks to the geological nature of the mass of stone on which Orvieto stands.

There are seven levels of tunnels and cavities, kilometers and kilometers of walking paths and stairs, crossing the city from North to South and from West to East. You can discover this unique city and its hidden treasure thanks to special guided tours.

The tours last about one hour and show you also the 17th century olive mill of the city and the doves’ nests. You’ll pass through narrow paths, had great views over the surroundings of Orvieto and learn its ancient history.

The oil and the products of Orvieto and surroundings

When I visited Orvieto there was Frantoi Aperti and I had the opportunity to discover the oil and other local products from Orvieto and surroundings. I tasted more than ten different new oils, and they all were good and one different from another.

One of the oils tasted was the best Italian oil for 2012, produced by Eugenio Ranchino Farm in Canale, few kilometers from Orvieto. I was surprised by its delicate taste! Then I tasted the oil produced by the Olive mill of Vecchio Mulino, located in the medieval hamlet of Castel Viscardo. This mill has been bought by the inhabitants themselves, that decided to go on with their ancient tradition.

If you want to discover the farms, the oil and wine producers of Orvieto and surroundings you can follow the Etruscan-Roman wine routes in Umbria. As a matter of fact the area is part of the Slow Food network and guarantees high quality organic products.