A visit to Orvieto was high on my bucket list so I decided to spend 2 nights and 2 full days there to have the time to really see the city.

The main attraction for me was the Duomo, but nothing could prepare me for my first sight of it. This is by far the most beautiful Duomo I have ever seen. When I walked around the corner onto the piazza in front of the Duomo di Orvieto, it literally took my breath away. It is so magnificent.

Orvieto Cathedral (Duomo di Orvieto; Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is a large 14th-century Roman Catholic Cathedral  dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and situated in the town of Orvieto in Umbria, central Italy.

This Romanesque-Gothic cathedral (Duomo) of Orvieto is breathtaking with its facade filled with detailed carvings and scenes from the Old and the New Testament and is one of the finest examples of Italian artistry

It is in the centre of this charming city. The facade of the Duomo is worth the trip especially if you can catch the sun reflecting off of it in the afternoon or early evening.

The outside is stripes made of Travertine marble and basalt. There are rose windows, lovely frescoes, and windows made of alabaster — when the sun shines through, they are magnificent.

It is perfection inside and out with incredible architectural detail. The colours are so beautiful; the paintings are rich and somehow either perfectly preserved or restored.

The frontage of the Duomo is just amazing, the gold leaf shines in the sun, and the colours are vibrant. The detailing of the facade, statues and the bronze doors is unbelievable. The initial reaction when entering the Duomo is its size. There are some wonderful statues and frescoes throughout, but the Capella Della Madonna Di San Brizio is just spectacular with many frescoes attributed to Fra Angelica. The organ loft is illuminated, we were lucky enough to hear a short organ recital whilst we were looking around, but quiet well known classical music was being relayed throughout our visit. There are some beautiful stained glass windows and near the left entrance is the large marble baptismal font with lions and elaborate frieze reliefs

This is the jewel in Orvieto’s crown.   If for nothing else, come to the city to see the façade of this magnificent Duomo. The mosaics alone are splendid.