Orvieto [antikvár]

. Hi. .1 r, i'i -s.''; n ^'îv'jvmîfâ^ 'I'M orvieto The tourist who arrives in Orvieto by rail or by road will see the town rising in the distance, set amid a beautiful landscape of fields and vineyards, and superbly situated on top of a volcanic outcrop, whose precipitous walls encircle it like a fortress dominating the broad valley of the river Paglia. Due to its posirion, its Etruscan antiquiries, the partly medieval appearance of its streets and above all its famous Cathedral, a jewel of Gothic art, Orvieto is one of the most fascinating towns in Italy. An important Etruscan city, identified by some with Volsinii Vet-eres (or also Urbisvetus, old town. In contradistinction to Volslnli-novl, the neighbouring Bolsena), Orvieto also maintained Its thriv- ing economy in Roman times, based especially on the production of pottery. During the barbarian Invasions, Orvieto was occupied by Alaric and Odoacer. Vltlgls, In turn, exploited Its strong natural position to turn it into a defensive bastion in his war against the Byzantines under Bellsarius, who succeeded in conquering it after a stubbornly-resisted siege in 538. Temporarily reoccupied by Totila before the final Gothic defeat, Orvieto was later occupied by the Lombard Agllulf In 596. The town was granted Its own bishop and. In 606, Its own counts. A count of Orvieto, Farolf, as part of the religious revival promoted by the emperor Otto III, cooperated with St. Romuald In fostering the foun-