On Saturday we finally celebrated Annette's diploma course pass with a whole bottle of 'Gosset' champagne and today we've risen in time to make the two-hour journey into Umbria.
Orvieto is halfway between Florence and Rome and my interest in the place goes back to 1996 when I did an Italian course in England. The course book was based on this medieval town and its inhabitants.
We arrive just before 2pm and so are pushing it a bit for lunch. We park up and start walking and find a restaurant that looks ok. It takes the waiter ages to come and then ages to bring some water and we haven't even ordered! After about half an hour we decide to leave... We walk on and hit the jackpot! A very elegant osteria, La Buca Di Bacco. We order the five-course truffle menu with a crisp white wine from Antinori's Umbrian estate... and are taken to heaven!
After this mammoth feast we fall out onto the cobbled streets and wander. Orvieto turns out to be a very beautiful city with some fascinating, crafty looking shops. There are several deep wells and Etruscan tombs and ruins. We check out the imposing gothic revival cathedral with its gold mosaic facade and I take a peak inside. There are some wonderful, colourful frescoes by Fra Angelico, Luca Signorelli and Benozzo Gozzoli.
We are also treated to a Morgan owners club meeting in the main square, with dozens of these classic beauties parked up. We decide to ascend this cool tower called 'Torre del Moro' for a panoramic view of the surrounding area, the sun is just going down and we witness a great sunset over the rolling Umbrian hills... breathtaking! The walk down is a little easier, but worth the effort.
In need of some refreshment before heading home, we stumble across this great cafe with some soft, comfortable chairs to sink down into while enjoying our alcohol-spiked coffees! A very pleasant end to a great first visit to this enchanting city.
(Original journal entry 17/10/04)
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