Orvieto

About the city

Orvieto is a city in Terni Province, Umbria. An Etruscan, and later a Roman town, Orvieto was the seat of a Lombard Duchy and Tuscan Countship, before becoming an independent commune in the 12th century. After many civil conflicts with neighbouring cities, the town passed under the dominion of the Papacy in 1448.

The city's many beautiful 13th century houses and palaces include the Episcopal Palace, the Palazzo del Popolo, and the Palazzo dei Papi, the last of which contains the civic museum with many pieces of art and a collection of antiquities from the nearby Etruscan necropolis of Volsinii. The town filled with many notable sites, such as the beautiful architectural churches, including St. Andrea (established between the 11th and 12th centuries) and San Domenico (built between 1233 and 1264); the old fortress (1364), which converted into a public garden; and the disused St. Patrick's Well, or Pozzo di St. Patrizio (1527 - 1540). A major civil engineering program to consolidate the foundations of the city's buildings was undertaken.

Orvieto noted for its beautiful white wine. Its wine tradition stems from a delicate semi-sweet vintage, aged in tufa cliffs. It is also known for its handicraft industries, including wrought iron, ceramics and lace.

The twinning agreement

The twinning between Orvieto and Bethlehem was signed in February 1996 by the then Mayor of Bethlehem Mr Elias Friej and the then Mayor of Orvieto Mr Stefano Chemeki. The agreement has included mutual visits by delegations from each city accompanied by tourist operators. Other municipal cooperation has exchanged in the field of street lighting designs, and $22,000 of funding provided by Orvieto for street lighting in Bethlehem. Orvieto has also offered political support to Bethlehem during difficult times, such as the building of the separation wall in 2003.