Hello all, During my time in Rome this summer I am planning to make some trips to some cities around Rome.
My question is: should one plan on an overnight when visiting Viterbo or Orvieto? In Viterbo I want to see the fountains, the architecture, and the overall ambience of the city. In Orvieto, it is the overall town and the cathedral that interest me.
I have checked Trenitalia and see that travel for day trips is quite possible, without an overnight stay.
Eating, shopping, sketching/painting, and wandering about are also prime activities.
If it were me, I would stay over night in Viberto. We have stayed there and the feel of the city is different at night (romantic with the lights). I would also suggest staying in the historic center.
As for Orvieto, I can not say as I have not been there yet. It looks like a beautiful city and I hope to get there one day.
I have spent a couple weeks in Orvieto (during different seasons) and have been to Viterbo for a week (albeit during the end of winter). My vote is for Orvieto.
I really like Viterbo, but I think that Orvieto is a must-see. When else will you visit a town on the top of a plateau? The town is charming and the views are spectacular. The cathedral at night is something to behold. Plus, there are great restaurants and caves to explore.
Posts: 97 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: 18 November 2006
This is not an either/or city choice for me! I have the time to visit both cities. The real either/or choice is to stay overnight or to return to Rome after my "day trip." I guess my question was vague...
It looks like staying in the centro of both cities is being suggested. The idea of overnight stays is a good one, I think.
If you have the luxury of time and don't mind an additional hotel booking, by all means spend at least one night in each of Viterbo and Orvieto. An overnight radically changes for the better the experience of discovering each of these towns.
Viterbo overnight is a great idea..let me know when you come and we can meet up for an aperitivo in the lovely historic Schenardi bar that dates back to 1493! Or a cappuccino at Giulio's on the Boulevard Marconi...there are many articles about Viterbo and area on my website that you should read. Now (not when I arrived here 15 yrs. ago ) there are many lovely central B&Bs available. and in July almost every evening there is the Tuscia Opera Festival.
GAC, Fortunately, I do have the luxury of time on this trip. I will be in Rome for six weeks and have rented an apartment as my base. Exploring some smaller cities near Rome is on my 'to-do' list this trip. I am leaning toward overnight stays as this will give me some time to just sit and sketch, which is probably the main thing I do when traveling.
Mary Jane, I saw the fountain itinerary of Viterbo on your website, and decided it looked like a fun and interesting trip. That is what got me interested in visiting. I am looking to stay overnight at Viterbo in the third week of June. Now, I just need to learn about the layout of the city so I am not hopelessly lost all the time. Probably the real reason I sit and sketch. I can enjoy the beautiful scenery as I desperately try to figure out where I am!
I am considering the overnight trip Orvieto. Even though it is not as close to Rome, the train is quick and easy for me to manage. I loved visiting hill towns but do not want to rent a car again. I just spend too much time lost! Since I can get to Orvieto on the train, it goes onto my list. Nice thing about trains, they are attached to tracks and I can't get lost once I get on board.
There are other small cities I would like to get to know, but these two are mentioned often as great places near Rome.
I have an overnight trip to Florence on my schedule (taking Diva's Market Walk and possibly a Context tour) but I have been to Florence several times and sort of know my way around there. In other words, "This place looks familiar. I must have been lost here before."
DMae, what a wonderful amount of time you are going to have. With that in mind, why not take two nights up in Viterbo? There is so much to see and do, and the first day will be travel time unless you are getting going early.
I envy your extended time to sit, sketch and see. My complements. And I am really glad you might catch up with Mary Jane.
(PS- I really like your image in your profile.)
Posts: 2993 | Location: Monterey Peninsula, California, USA | Registered: 07 September 2003
DMae, My husband and I will be in an apartment in Viterbo in JUne--the 7th til 14th. Maybe you could come up that week and we can have a little GTG with Mary Jane and Michael, too.
Originally posted by DMae: Michael, I will be in Rome from May 29 to July 10.
Great... I'll be there the entire time you will be there. If you need any help or suggestions, feel free to e-mail or call me. I'm based in Soriano nel Cimino, which is a town that is about 9 miles from Viterbo and 30 miles from Orvieto.
Quite a few regulars here will be there, too. As posted, Jan will be in our area during that period, Mary Jane lives in the area, and kurberry lives in the area. We should plan something.
I saw you mentioned sketching, and your website certainly shows your love for photography... There is quite a bit in our area besides just Viterbo and Orvieto that will keep your shutter happy: The monster park at Bomarzo, Villa Lante in Bagnaia (Viterbo), Palazzo Farnese, The Fortress in Civita, The Faggeta Forest in Soriano, The Marmore falls, Corviano, Tarquinia, Civita Bagniorego, etc. etc. I could go on forever. I have a small list of places that are within day-trip distance from Soriano and Viterbo on my site here that might interest you, and a collection of videos here that will give you a feel for the area.
Hello to all, Jan, I would love to meet up, however; the first two weeks of June I am in a language class that will absorb most of my time and all of my brain capacity. That is why I was planning a trip to Viterbo in the third week of June. I may have recovered my thinking processes by then.
I could come the weekend of 7/8 June, but I would have to be back in Rome for my early Monday morning class. Would that work?
I have been to both cities and enjoyed Orvieto a bit more. However, that being said, the best day we spent was DRIVING around Lago Bracciano, which is SOUTH of Viterbo and just about an hour north of Roma.
It has a ring road around it (can't get lost really) with 3 towns: Anguillara, Bracciano and Trevignana Romana. The first and the last are ON the lake and Bracciano has the castle where Tom & Katie Cruise got married. That town is on the hill above the lake. It was the most relaxing day and during the time you'll be there, it would be a lovely break from the city of Roma. We had a great lunch at La Nepitella in Anguillara right on the lake!
If you do it right, you can lunch in Anguillara, afternoon in Bracciano and finish with dinner in Trevignana.
As you have the time, it's worth the trip and the drive!!!
Doug
ANCORA IMPARO
Posts: 2096 | Location: Winter Park, FL | Registered: 18 May 2005
Hi Cheryl, I am planning on staying overnight in both Viterbo and Orvieto. That will give me a good chance to experience what GAC refers to as a "radical change for the better."
Right now I will overnight at Viterbo on the first weekend of June if we can organize a GTG. Otherwise, I will go it alone in the third week of June.
My visit to Orvieto is still in the planning stage. If I do get to Viterbo the first week in June, then I will travel to Orvieto during the third week!
Hi Doug, Well, you have given me some very good ideas and tempted me with the possibility of driving into the wilds of Italy again. I am basically a chicken and, as mentioned before, lost most of the time. I can rationalize this with the fact that here in Alaska, we have very few roads. So I am not used to making choices about which road to take. As you can see, it is not my fault!
Hi all, I have made a reservation for 7 June to 8 June so I can meet up with slow travelers in Viterbo!
Now, I have a question about transportation between Rome and Viterbo. Bill (Fibonacci) sent me a pdf map of transport routes. My question is this:
I see a train, the FR3 that leaves from Ostiense and another route which leaves from Flamino. What is the difference? I will have a monthly pass. Will that work on one or the other?
I can easily get to either on Saturday morning, so that is not an eliminating factor.
There has been advice here to avoid the train out of Flaminio: it doesn't cover the whole route to Viterbo very often, and here is an example of the warnings against it.
Of course you have to stay overnight in Orvieto. There is far too much to see, and too much atmosphere to soak up for a day trip. At the very least, take the first train in the morning and the last train back the following day.
Oh! Just to lift the whole experience to a new level, have lunch or dinner at I Setti Consoli ... preferably the degustasion menu. If the prices are a little high for you, make it the only meal you have and live on gelato from Dolceamaro for the rest of the time.
I know I haven't posted for a while, but how I reverted to being a "new member" is rather strange. Maybe after my Niece "experience", I've been born again.
