Ovieto

After reading about Ovieto and looking at pictures online, I thought it would be a good idea to visit this small town mid-week.  It takes about an hour and a half by train to arrive in Ovieto, which is situated in the Umbria region.   It is perched on one of the most dramatic sites in Europe, rising above the almost-vertical faces of tuff cliffs which are completed by defensive walls built of the same stone caled Tufa.

As my pictures will attest, Ovieto is magnificent from any angle.  It looks down from its cliff-edged balcony over a vineyard-dotted plain. The city streets are narrow and cobble-stoned, there are many small shops selling local products (such as the wine! and pottery), lots of restaurants, etc..  It also houses one of the greatest of all of Italy's Romanesque-Gothic cathedrals, the Duomo as well an underground city, comprised of caves and tunnels which are open to view by guided tour.  We had not planned to stay there overnight, but once we started walking its carless streets, I made an impulsive decision that we would stay...I'm so glad that we did that and cannot wait to return some day.

Our train trip was quite comfortable.

The view as we traversed the countryside.

Upon arriving in Ovieto, we quickly took the Funicular up the cliff,  it was pretty cool!

and ate here....

The local wine.

Can never get enough bruschetta

Roma played it safe and had the chicken

I decided to try the pigeon which was pretty good; I just don't like pigeons.

Could this be more quaint!

Inside the Duomo

The Duomo of Ovieto (begun in 1290), inspired by the Miracle of Bolsena which which real blood from a consecrated host supposedly fell on the altar cloth of a church in nearby Bolsena.

Those bronze door are quite magnificent.

The facade is qutie striking as well...14th century rose window.

At the corner of Via del Duomo there still survives the mechanical clock tower that chimed the moments of work and rest for the workmen in the building site over the centuries.

these are on the facade of the Duomo...beautiful work!

The views from atop!  

Can someone translate?

We bought several small items here which were very carefully wrapped by the potterer!

More of her work

Gelato!

We came upon this little shop which had some beautiful  items carved from wood.

The view from our room.

Cats are free to roam all over!  Cats are revered in Italy.

Another smaller church

This looked like it was a fort at one time.

Doors of Ovieto!

Views from our room.

That's our room up there!

This is where we stayed, I would highly recommend it.

The cliffs on which Ovieto sits

Celebrating Ovieto!

Dinner in what seemed like someone's kitchen.

Sunrise

We came across a farmer's market in the morning

Goodbye Ovieto...until we meet again!