Orvieto Underground

About the museum

Beneath the historic centre of Orvieto extends a labyrinth of over 1,200 caves, tunnels, wells and cisterns, dug by people into the tufa and pozzolana over almost three millennia. The spaces were used and then forgotten, until in the late 1970s a large landslide on the cliff, a few hundred metres from the cathedral, drew the attention of a group of local cavers, who in the 1980s rediscovered and surveyed the cavities.

The guided tour, organised by the company Speleotecnica, starts from Piazza del Duomo 23 and lasts about one hour along an easy route. It passes through tunnels, stairs and superimposed rooms, with small square niches in the walls, and makes it possible to read the history of the “underground city”: from the Etruscan period of Velzna to the medieval and Renaissance phases.

The cavities are a valuable source of historical and archaeological information and show how the underground structures, linked to the life of the city above, have remained largely intact. The route is only accessible on a guided tour, at fixed times during the day.

Highlights

• Guided route through caves dug over 2,500 years
• Tunnels, wells and niches dug into the tufa
• Views of the cliff from the openings along the route
• Traces of the Etruscan city of Velzna and of the medieval and Renaissance phases

Operated by

Speleotecnica S.r.l.

Visitors per year

approx. 50,600

Admission & discounts

Please keep your ticket: it entitles you to discounts at other partner underground and natural sites, including the Pozzo della Cava in Orvieto.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site describes the route as easy; it gives no specific information on accessibility for people with mobility impairments.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Weddings can be celebrated in the caves, with conditions to be agreed case by case.

Plan your visit