To - Orvieto
Distance - 53km
Time - 3.5 hours
Total - 4611km
After last nights rain it was beautiful and sunny in the morning and pleasantly fresh. The accommodation did o breakfast so I went in search of food in the new Chiusu town and the supermarket was still not open till 8.30am so I found a little bakers shop and had a couple of pastries, water and a coffee, It was very cheap too. I bought a sandwich and slice of spicy pizza for lunch. I went in search of Eurovelo 7 again and when I fond it it was so stoney that I decided to stick to a road that ran fairly parallel.
The first climb was to the town of Ficulle and then down and up again before a long descent towards Orvieto. It dawned on me that I have come from Cumbria, cycled over 4500km and the only difference between home and here is a missing letter 'C' ..... because I am now in Umbria! The countryside is equally beautiful.
I got sight of Orvieto up on its hilltop. It looked so close but getting there was still an issue. I had to ride 4km up a steep hill to get to the old town n top of a hill plateau. They had recently resurfaced th road up which made it nice and smooth rather than the cracked and bumpy roads I had been on. Once at the top I made my way to the towns famous Duomo with its renowned facade. I didn't go in, I did that later after I had booked in the hotel. The facade is worth a visit by itself. I will let the pictures show it rather than use my poor descriptive abilities. First impressions of the town are wonderful. I sat at a cafe looking at he Duomo and tried the Orvieto white wine.
I remember this wine from my teenage years when I worked at the Belvedere Italian Restaurant in Read near Burnley. Orvieto white was the wine of choice for fish and chicken dishes. I learned a full range of Italian swear words whilst working there. I used to love the cannelloni and the veal dishes.
I got to my nice hotel in the centre on Via Garibaldi. I have been waiting for Garibaldi's name to pop up because I remember him from school history. He is a very interesting character. He was born in Nice and travelled to Northern Africa and to South America where he commanded the Uruguay navy, he got interested in the unification of Italy but lost the first attempt. He travelled to New York and then to Tyneside (I don't know why!). He went back to Italy and managed a partial win in the second war of unification and later managed to kick the Pope out of most of Rome (except the Vatican)! He has an Italian Aircraft Carrier named after him but more importantly he has a biscuit named after him. I would like a biscuit named after me, it's quite an achievement! I think he must have had a good PR agent behind him, certainly a celebrity of his time.
In the afternoon I visited the Duomo and felt the Grumpy Pizza coming back. I didn't mind too much the entry fee of 3 euros although the vast majority of churches are free, even the one at Florence but they banned the taking of photos!! That to me going. There seems to be a big inconsistency in churches and museums about the use of cameras. I fully understand they don't want people using flash photography at works of art but people know that and don't use flash photography. I got grumpy at the payment desk and asked why, of course the woman couldn't answer apart for saying it wasn't her decision. I was so grumpy that I took pictures anyway whilst the two attendants were looking! I am getting bolshy in my old age! Sorry, not so old age! The Duomo is fantastically beautiful though and I much preferred it to the one at Florence.
I made a walking tour of my own around the whole town including a visit to St Patricks well. I was grumpy again because a notice at the top of the street said it was 2 euros and when I got to the well it was 5 euros! I didn't go in!
The views from around the perimeter of the town are outstanding. Is joyed walking all areas of the town.
I had a nice meal out in the evening, only spoiled by three young Americans who were totally ignorant of anyone around them. They watched there mobile phones constantly occasionally playing the sound aloud and they only grunted at the waiter. I am still being grumpy......not really because I enjoyed the meal. I had one last evening walk before going back the room and watching Italy versus Spain at football, should be a good game.
Only two riding days left. I can't believe it!
Photo 1, Town of Ficulle at he top of a steep hill.
Photo 2, County views.
Photo 3, Fortezza at the eastern side of the town.
Photo 4, Duomo di San Brizio.
Photo 5, The facade.
Photo 6, Orvieto white wine, well deserved I must say!
Photo 7, Narrow town streets with bell tower in the background, believed to be the oldest in Italy.
Photo 8, Altar area of the Duomo, fantastic frescos on the walls.
Photo 9, A side chapel of the Duomo.
Photo 10, Another view from the Fortezza.
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