A city that is steeped in history, tradition and unparalleled architectural wonders, attracting tourists from all over the world throughout the year, could not fail to offer citizens and visitors a wide range of entertainment and cultural events. From religious commemorations to music, good food and sport, Orvieto offers a programme of initiatives that will delight and amaze.
In the period May-June, the famous feast of Corpus Domini is celebrated, with the fascinating procession of the relic of the Corporal linked to the ‘Miracle of the Blood’ of Bolsena and the historical procession that accompanies it, with participants in reproduction costumes and characters from the medieval period. At around the same time, on the day of Pentecost, Piazza del Duomo is filled with devotees for the festa della Palombella: a dove is flown from Via Maitani to a specially prepared canopy in front of the Duomo, to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. On the same day, the entire city fills its balconies and terraces with flowers typical of the four city districts, on the occasion of the Orvieto in fiore event. On 15th August the population celebrates the patron saint of the city with the solemn feast of Santa Maria Assunta, while at Christmas, don’t miss out on the beautiful nativity scenes in the unique setting of the Pozzo della Cava, for the event called Presepe nel Pozzo.
If you want to nourish your body as well as your spirit, then Orvieto con Gusto (held in October) is for you: the festival’s gastronomic events offer an excellent opportunity to taste all the typical dishes and products of the city, while I Gelati d’Italia (April-May), is a real ice-cream Championship, with a flavour representing each region. In August, the Orvieto Folk Festival covers a broad range of interests and attractions in addition to music, from food and wine stands to local traditions. Equally unmissable are the other two musical events: Orvieto Music and Culture, where music is accompanied by theatre and other forms of art, and the very famous Umbria Jazz Winter, which has lit up the New Year celebrations in Orvieto for over 20 years, attracting jazz lovers, artists and visitors from every corner of the planet.
And this is not all, especially if you are a sports lover: on the Saturday before the festival of Corpus Domini, ten athletes from the city run a circuit of around 1 km around the Duomo for the Staffetta dei Quartieri, a sort of Relay Race between the Neighbourhoods. For those who prefer motorised races, the Cronoscalata della Castellana in May sees vintage and modern cars face off against each other at high speed on a route of about seven km on the winding road that leads from Ciconia to Orvieto, passing through Monte Peglia. Speed and adrenalin-fuelled fun is guaranteed!