Orvieto Cathedral

As the most famous attraction in the city, this church is magnificent and rich in historical value. Legend has it that Michelangelo visited it in his youth to draw inspiration, which shows how profound its artistic value is. The church itself is not as magnificent as other churches in Rome, but the sculptures here convey the people's worship and longing for the church at that time. If you have enough time, I recommend purchasing a ticket to visit the underground city. Unfortunately, we arrived early this time and the guided tour had not yet started. I believe I will definitely visit the underground city next time I visit!

​The Orvieto Cathedral is truly impressive. Its location on top of the hill structure naturally provides it with a well-protected position. The most striking feature is the exterior, where the gold-painted facade beautifully catches the sunset light. Inside, the sculptures and the overall aesthetic of the interior make for a very pleasant and rewarding visit.

Stunning architecture! Italy is home to many exceptional cathedrals, but this one truly stands out as one of the most remarkable in all of Europe. Entry is only €6.50, and remember to cover your shoulders and legs to be allowed inside. The grandeur and beauty are absolutely breathtaking, you’ll be amazed.

This is a stunning 1500 church in the Florence style using the black and white stones to create the iconic stripes. The fresco paintings inside are well worth a look. They depict the Last Judgment, featuring vivid scenes of the Resurrection of the Flesh, the Elect in Paradise, and the Damned in Hell.Buy the entry tickets opposite.

We had a 30-minute time frame to visit this spot and we enjoyed walking the town and only took pictures of the outside of this cathedral. You can see the stripes from a distance which indicates the side of the cathedral so it is relatively easy to find. The detail on the front of the cathedral is incredible and it was fun to stand and study it.

The Duomo in Orvieto is one of the most beautiful churches I’ve visited in Italy. The outside is stunning — the front is full of detailed mosaics, sculptures, and gold decorations that shine in the sunlight. The walls are made of black and white stone in stripes, which makes it look very unique compared to other cathedrals. Inside, the cathedral is peaceful and full of history. The most impressive part is the Chapel of San Brizio, where you can see amazing frescoes by Luca Signorelli. These paintings show scenes from the Last Judgment and the Apocalypse, and the emotion and detail in the faces are incredible. It’s hard to believe they were painted over 500 years ago. Another highlight is the crypt, which many visitors miss. It’s small but very interesting, with ancient frescoes, old tombs, and Christian symbols. It feels like a hidden part of the cathedral that connects you to a much older time. Overall, the Duomo is not just beautiful — it also tells many stories through its art and structure. If you’re in Orvieto, don’t miss it. It’s a perfect mix of architecture, art, and history in one place.

A wonderful place. Beautiful art, sculptures, partial frescos from the 1400s, interesting strapping of columns to ensure structural integrity, 30m wide by 34m high by 90m long, and still holds mass. When mass is on tourists are welcome just remain respectfully silent. The sounds from mass were wonderful!

The Duomo in Orvieto, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, stands majestically with its intricate façade adorned with golden mosaics and sculpted biblical figures. Inside, it houses mesmerizing frescoes by Luca Signorelli that depict the vivid tales of the Last Judgment. These murals are an awe-inspiring blend of dramatic storytelling and exquisite artistry, illustrating themes of redemption, the struggle between good and evil, and the ascension to heavenly realms. The frescoes' vibrant colors and dynamic compositions capture the spectators' imagination, making the cathedral a beacon of spiritual and artistic inspiration.

Nestled in a quaint little hill town, this duomo is spectacular. What is the difference between a cathedral and a Duomo? They are in fact one and the same! Duomo is an Italian word for cathedral, which is a Catholic church where the bishop resides. I would not like to live in a world without cathedrals. I need their beauty and grandeur. I need their imperious silence. I need it against the witless bellowing of the barracks yard and the witty chatter of the yes-men. I want to hear the rustling of the organ, this deluge of ethereal notes. I need it against the shrill farce of marches. Pascal Mercer

If you can only visit one place in Orvieto, the Duomo should be it! This strikingly beautiful 14th century cathedral is likely the crown jewel of the small mountain town. It has amazing statues (check out all 18 of them, including the two right in front of the altar-- the unbelievable Angel of the Annunciation and the Virgin of the Annunciation! ) masterpiece frescos, and stained glass windows so vibrant that they etch into your heart! For just 5 Euros (at this writing) the beauty and memory you get is simply out of this world. A true marvel !!!

The cathedral flagstone was laid on 13 November 1290 but work (reconstruction, redesign) continued into the 20th century. In fact, the beautiful bronze doors were added in 1970. The side walls, alternating layers of local white travertine and blue-grey basalt stone are a stark, but beautiful contrast to the glittering gold-accented front facade. Unfortunately, we could not enter the church owing to a funeral. A large rose window and golden mosaics, and a wealth of sculpture festoon the front. The cathedral has five bells, dating back to the Renaissance.

The duomo is a beautiful cathedral we visited in Orvieto on the greenline tour on the way to Assisi. It's costs 4 euros per person to enter. Given our limited time in the town hubby & I decided not to enter the duomo so that we could have more time looking at the souvenir shops. We did appreciate the outside of the cathedral however & if we'd had more time would have gone inside. Note that to reach the Duomo we took a tram up the hill. I'm not sure if you can drive up there. Once on top of the hill we took a bus which dropped us off in the piazza right in front of the Duomo.

Tremendously beautiful Cathedral, stacked with fresco's on the inside. The richly decorated facade will amaze you. Certainly worth the visit and even a detour. Mind the dresscode in Italian churches.

It's a pretty cool duomo. But remember this one is not free, it's 3 EUR just for the cathedral.

Very beautiful from the outside. Remember long trousers and you might be allowed inside, after you have paid 3 EUR

When visiting the quaint Orvieto, the duomo is a must- see. Its front facade is an impressive sight; the contrast with the side facades is an interesting design choice. The open square around the church enhances the magnificence of this structure. The surrounding area of artisan shops, gelaterias, and stone-paved-roads-narrow-enough-to-be-alleyways make for a fantastic afternoon stroll. Because of its elevation, the wind could be quite strong, so a hat and scarf would be good choices.

No trip to Europe is complete without visiting many cathedrals and churches. It's worth a stop in Orvieto to see the Duomo, a massive cathedral for a reasonably small town. The front facade is currently under renovation but it doesn't take away from appreciating the size and beauty of this cathedral, which is reminiscent of the Duomo in Firenze.

The Orvieto Cathedral is a majestic structure marking the first significant location from Rome on our Globus tour. It was a proper climax after riding the fun-fun-fun-funicular up the ancient volcano Orvieto rests upon. The cathedral is effectively the sole reason for the visit--nothing else is recommended (sorry citizens of Orvieto). There's not enough time to do much else save grabbing food and doing a bit of shopping. Visitors are also suggested to avoid the numerous panhandlers begging for money. I would usually offer sympathy except the first one I found hobbling towards me on his ankles was one of the worst imitations of a handicap I've seen since Nicholas Cage in The Wicker Man. I knew someone with polio, and I've seen how sufferers with cerebral palsy walk, and you have neither, you charlatan. This accusation was further sustained by a similar individual two blocks later with the exact same awkward gate. When I returned towards the Cathedral ten minutes later, that first faux-cripple had a cup half-full of euros. People. Are. Suckers. So those reading this can heed my warnings--clamp onto your wallets like a GI Joe with kung-fu grip and open it only when paying for food. It's an unfortunate blight plaguing the region, a fact no one apparently attempts to address, shame given the amazing beauty of the cathedral itself. The photos I took really don't give it justice. It reflects a style of construction unseen in most or Rome. Later spots in Florence would repeat this pattern, some identically. Within the duomo lies an enormous expanse of striped columns rising to an immense ceiling. I'd love to share this experience via images, but like so many churches in Italy, photography is prohibited. Why? Well, there was some nonsensical and unscientific excuse about flash photography damaging paint back in the Sistine Chapel. Here, they didn't even offer that, with only whispers of respect being insisted. But if you think it's a hard rule, just do a search on "Orvieto Cathedral Interior" and bask in the thousands of professional images already taken. Just like the rule that we had to cover our shoulders and knees. I'd like to point out the irony of us needing to be covered so we can enter a church known for its frescoes of naked people. I'm not kidding, there are paintings of naked people in there. There's even one of a demon biting the back of someone's head like grapefruit, shocking given the prudish nature of Catholicism and the censorship of the famous Roman and Greek forms "heroic nudity". Remember, this is Italy, where they love their churches but seldom attend. Oh and the cathedral also houses an old cracker that reportedly once bled. No real mention if the priest had only cut himself and jumped to conclusions, but let's leave that one be. I'm sure that's still enough for Orvieto to mark a national day around it. In fact, this entire magnificent construction is owed to that event. Have to admire that level of fanaticism...well, actually, I can hotly criticize, but the past is the past and at least something beautiful remains as a side effect. Seriously, this thing cannot be properly described. You can zoom your camera to the limit and find details unseen by the naked eye. Given the brief visit, I can't really comment on the rest of Orvieto, except that the parts I saw were amazing. It's a real shame that our tour rationed so little time here. To stop the tour, ride the tram, take a bus, see the church, and only have enough time for lunch surely does a disservice to the rest of the town. If you are lucky enough to visit while not on a tour, I hope the rest was a good as the highlight.