Orvieto Underground (Citta Sotterranea)

Orvieto Underground reveals a network of wells, cisterns, tunnels and chambers excavated beneath the city. The cavities record more than two millennia of adaptation to the volcanic plateau on which Orvieto stands.

Why it matters

The underground spaces reflect the practical ingenuity required to live on a plateau with limited surface water. The mapped network includes more than 1,200 cavities, excavated over approximately 2,500 years.

What to notice

Etruscan wells were cut into the tufa, with footholds called pedarole carved into the walls for descent. Medieval chambers contain rows of small niches, or colombari, used for raising pigeons. A medieval olive mill, including mills, a press and vats, was also discovered beneath the city.

Context and history

Local speleologists began systematically exploring the cavities after a landslide in the late 1970s renewed attention to the underground. Their work revealed a complex landscape of water infrastructure, storage and domestic spaces beneath the modern streets. The Etruscan city of Velzna relied on wells and cisterns to manage its water supply.