About
There is a hidden side to this picturesque Umbrian city.
The people of Orvieto utilized the advantages of their location on top of a bluff, taking in the beautiful view, and benefiting from formidable natural defenses. However, this also meant there was limited space to work with and access to non-rock resources was restricted. To overcome this challenge they decided to construct an entire underground city beneath the raised plateau, a tradition which dates back to ancient Etruscans. It is believed this could've been Velzna, but due to recent discoveries this has come under question. As water sources were located downhill, the locals needed an alternative. To solve that problem they dug wells into their stronghold and built chambers with cisterns for collection and transportation of rainwater over the next 2,500 years.
