THE REGION
 The traveler who approaches Orvieto by train or by car, sees from a distance the city which rises on a plateau of volcanic tufa, surrounded by a stupendous landscape of fields and vineyards. The unbreachable walls appear to encircle the city rather than elevate it, as though it were a fortress rising on the flat valley floor of the river Paglia.
Because of its location, because of its Etruscan roots, because of its charming medieval character, and above all because of its celebrated Cathedral which is a gem of Gothic architecture, Orvieto is one of Italy's most unique and interesting cities.
Orvieto is at an elevation of 1000 feet while the valley lies at 360 feet. There are 10,000 people who live in the city itself and another 15,000 in the valley and in the surrounding hills.
The Summer provides average daily temperatures of 75 F, winters are cool with average temperatures of 45 F. Christmas is a lively time in Orvieto, and is followed by a world renowned Jazz festival in January.
 La Forestella is ideally situated for visiting the towns and villages of both Tuscany and Umbria. Orvieto's train station, with its fast trains to Rome and Florence, is 20 minutes away, as is the A-1 autostrada. The Via Cassia, the old Roman road ( 10 min. away) takes one to Siena, passing the famous wine centers of Montepulciano and Montalcino, through some of the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of Tuscany. One can visit the chain of towns in Umbria, like Todi (1/2 hour) Spoleto (1 hour) and Perugia (1.5 hours), steeped in history and culture, centers of art and gastronomy , or simply wander through the open air markets stopping for coffee or lunch under a shady pergola.
Five minutes from the villa one can pick up the SS 74, which winds through the southernmost part of Tuscany, past pristine villages all the way to the sea, and Porto Santo Stefano, with its ferries to the islands of Giglio and Elba (1.5 hours).
Lake Bolsena, the largest volcanic lake in Italy with its charming medieval town of Bolsena is 5km from the house. Bagnoregio and civita Di Bagnoregio are 6km away, as is the village of Lubriano. |
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