We've spent the last few studio classes presenting our first studio projects...each apartment was in charge of creating a walking tour and coordinating map of their Quartiere/neighborhood of the city. In an effort to ensure we all know ALL of the city, we then led our class on our 1.5 hour tours. Today was the last of the 5 spins around the city, which led us to great little shops, piazzas, and churches...thus the hodge podge nature of this post. I've included shots from all over the city, from little details to fantastic cliff-side panoramas, as we covered nearly every inch of our little hilltown...

Without further adoo...a visual conglomeration of Orvieto!


There's a city park on the highest point on the western edge of the cliff, where a former fortress stood. Amazing views.


The 'political rationalist' ornaments atop the gate on the western end of town. It's an interesting and harsh contrast seeing this political interpretation compared to the original Etruscan gateway further down the road.


Again, I've pointed out how close our Centro Studi is to the Duomo (you see the corner of the front steps in the foreground here...)



The main doors of the Duomo are only opened on Sundays, for a few moments after Mass. Some quick camera work and a rare moment lacking throngs of Japanese tourists gives you a view up Via Maitani. Looking back in, for a rare moment when the sun behaves, is the most perfect, yet beautifully brief visual (thus the wonky angle...snap the picture quick or miss it).



Each morning, on the way to Centro Studi, I head down Via Maitani (seen and mentioned above), to wake up with this:


It's funny how my least favorite thing about Italian Gothic architecture has quickly become my favorite thing about Orvieto: the striped construction. A mix of local travertine and basalt, these striped walls are overflowing with texture and vibrancy--an appropriate match to the Italian hilltown and lifestyle.