It was drizzling as I walked from Fe3.0, a bar and restaurant in the center, back to my apartment in the Olmo quarter.
I held my umbrella firmly in my hand and diligently avoided the puddles between each crack of cobblestone.
As I walked across the via Malabranca bridge, I looked to my left where an assortment of rooftops could usually be seen. In this weather, I could make out hazy outlines with the help of a few streetlights.
Every day, I walked the same path into town, said ciao to the same people sitting on their usual benches, and ordered bread from the same family.
After two weeks of being entertained by stories from locals over aperitivo and on my morning walks, I couldn’t help wondering what would be possible if I stayed for two months, three months, or even a year.
When I visit small towns like Orvieto, I find that it’s much easier to fold myself into the daily fabric — especially when I make an effort to use the language at every opportunity.
If you’re planning on going to Italy, and you’re open to spending time in places outside the usual sights, Orvieto is a must. Not only is it near the center of the country and on the border between Tuscany and Umbria, but it’s full of Etruscan history, that slow pace that everyone loves to love from Italy, and friendly locals that will make you seriously consider buying an apartment and never leaving.
From afar, it seems as if the entire town has been airdropped onto a hill made of tufa rock, and it’s known for having a gorgeous, gasp-inducing Duomo.
But, as you may suspect, I think it has more to offer than that -- particularly when it comes to the enthusiastic Italian student.
Below you’ll find a guide that I hope will help you meet people and practice the language when you visit.
Note: I originally wrote this article in 2016, and I’m updating in 2022 after the pandemic. Some of the places that I had previously listed have been permanently closed, which was heartbreaking to see. Even then, my research showed me that there was still SO much available to see, do, and experience in Orvieto, and it got me excited to think about what my next trip could look like.
If you have any suggestions that you would like to add to this list, leave a comment with the name, address, and a bit about your experience, so I can add it. I love hearing about how locations in Italy personally touched you!
Where to eat
Given that Orvieto is on the border of Tuscany and Umbria, it’s known for having a mix of both region’s delicacies, including truffles, umbrichelli, and wild boar. There are SO many delicious places to eat, but here are a few that I found most memorable.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Italian with Cher to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.