During our stay in Orvieto, we went for a drive in the countryside around it.
Our first stop was at Cività di Bagnoregio.

The village is also situated on a hilltop, one much smaller than that of Orvieto.
No cars are permitted in the village, which must be entered on foot across the long bridge.
As you can imagine, the village inside is quiet and peaceful.

Our next stop was at Lago di Bolsena.
It wasn't very attractive up close, though,
with beaches more of pebbles than sand.

From there we continued to Pitigliano.
Here was yet another picturesque hilltop town.

The Etruscans left signs of their presence here, too, in the form of tombs
dug into the sides of the hill, many later "repurposed" as modern garages.

Our last stop of the day was nearby Sorano, another amazing hilltop town.

It is known for its Etruscan ruins, among them, this road, built over 2500 years ago.

There are also Etruscan tombs here, dug out of tufa (a substance soft
enough to dig with a shovel until exposed to the air, when it hardens like stone).

Close this page and then click on another image on the map of
central Italy to see our photos from another part of our trip.