About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Monday, April 25, 2011

O is for Orvieto

Come with me this week to Orvieto, one of my favourite places to see in Italy. Located just outside of the border of Tuscany, it is found in Umbria at the top of a huge chunk of volcanic rock (tufo) just off the freeway between Florence and Rome. We drove up narrow roads and through narrow alleyways to our hotel, which was in the center of the old town. A short walk took us to the Duomo and the Archaeological Museum. Both were fascinating to see!
We also toured the caves beneath the town. Orvieto is honeycombed with Etruscan and medieval caves where you can see an old olive press, two impressive 130-foot-deep well shafts, and the remains of a primitive cement quarry. This underground city boasts tunnels, galleries, wells, stairs, quarries, cellars, unexpected passageways, cisterns, superimposed rooms with numerous small niches, detailing its creation over the centuries. (from Wikipedia) You can only see this area with guides and it's definitely worth it to go check it out. In 2008, I wrote about the caves here.
The other truly fascinating place to visit here is the Necropolis. We wound our way down the mighty cliff to meet our guide at the end of our descent. Here we found an ancient burial site formed like a "town." The necropolis...is made up of a series of small chamber tombs, aligned along the burial "roads". The arrangement of the tombs, which follows a definite "town" plan, provides precious elements for the study of the layout for the ancient city. Built from blocks of tuff, the entrance lintels of the tombs are inscribed with the name of the deceased. The earliest excavations in the 19th century yielded important artifacts...(from here)
One free afternoon, I wandered the narrow streets of Orvieto, taking photos of things that caught my eye. There was a wooden wall sculpture depicting the story of Pinocchio, a Trojan horse, a cow, a mythological creature, hanging baskets, and windows holding potted plants. If the slide show doesn't work properly like last week, simply click on the picture and you'll be taken to a new screen. Then click "full screen" and you'll be able to see the pictures for sure. Enjoy!








Without a doubt, this was one of the highlights of my month-long stay in Italy! I highly recommend visiting Orvieto and staying a minimum of 2 or 3 days in order to experience everything it has to offer.
ABC Wednesday is brought to you by the outstanding Mrs. Nesbitt and her team of organizers. We're in our fourth year now and would love for others to join in and contribute their poetry, prose, photographs or artwork - actually anything you'd like to share! Check us out here!

18 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

Amazing, Leslie. I wouldn't want to go into the underground city or the necropolis myself (severe claustrophobia overwhelms my interest in anthropology and archaeology), but it is fascinating to watch your slide show.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Roger Owen Green said...

NOT familiar with this place. FASCINATING.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Brilliant Leslie .. I would love to tour Italy .. not been to Tuscany yet !!

Hildred said...

Wonderful post Leslie, - thank you for sharing with us stay-at-homes!

Slide show is beautiful and most interesting.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Oh, I want to go to Ovierto! Nice to learn more about for that day when I do go (always the optimist!).

Reader Wil said...

Excellent Leslie! What a nice treat to take us on a tour in Orvieto. The slide is great! Thank you!

EG CameraGirl said...

Well, you've convinced me. I need to visit Orvieto! :)

photowannabe said...

What an amazing place. Makes me want to pack my bags and leave right now!

Amanda said...

Have never been there, but it looks & sounds lovely

Meryl said...

Oh how beautiful. I love the information you provide and the photo- especially how the light is hitting the city. Just beautiful.

Wanda said...

What a beautiful slide show... So sorry I probably will never see this beauty in person so thanks for sharing.

Beverley Baird said...

What a beautiful city! I would love to visit Italy! Fabulous photos Leslie! Have a great week!

Christine said...

Love any architecture that's older then a hundred years. I am in constant travel mode, but alas, have to live vicariously through you.

Tumblewords: said...

Terrific slideshow! Looks like a wonderful place and I'd be first to sign up for a trip.

Dinah said...

I wish to be able to see this place in this lifetime ;-)

O is Overcrowded

Chubskulit Rose said...

Such a gorgeous place!

A Splash of Orange made my ABC this week, come and see. Thank you!

kat said...

wow, wonderful slides. Italy is one of my dream country to visit in the future. I wish my dream will come true. Happy ABC Wed. Leslie.

Joy said...

Looks a fascinating place, I love the street decorations. Definitely on my list of Italian places to visit now.