Ancient village in the Agro Falisco, Orte has always been an important city situated on ancient and modern roads, strategic waterways, and railways. Palaces, churches, museums, and a magical underground world confirm its richness.
Glimpse of Orte nestled on a tufaceous cliff
Orte, a thousand-year-old cultural and commercial crossroads, preserves significant evidence, starting from the Etruscans, both in the visible city and the underground city. The tuff cliff on which Orte stands hides a dense network of tunnels, cisterns, wells, warehouses, cellars, stables, dovecotes, summer triclinia, and even residential chambers, all accessible during a visit starting from the underground fountain. Not to be missed.
Orte sotterranea
The “emerged” city is also very interesting, with architectures that have ensured the importance and beauty of Orte through the centuries. Testimonies include numerous elegant Palaces , such as the 14th-century Palazzo Nerei-Roberti, the Renaissance Roberteschi, Alberti della Rocca, and the 16th-century Palazzo dell’Orologio. Additionally, there are the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta and the Romanesque Church of San Biagio.
Square Belvedere ofOrte – photo comune.orte.vt.it
Remarkable are also the traditional festivals: from August 31st to the second Sunday of September, the Octave of Sant’Egidio takes place, eight days during which the seven districts celebrate the patron saint with medieval games, theatre, and music. The eighth day is dedicated to the Palio degli Arcieri, where archers from each district compete for the silver ring. Men and women from the districts attend the competitions in 14th-century attire.
A moment from the Palio degli Arcieri
In winter, during the artichoke season, don’t miss the tasting of the Artichoke of Orte, larger than the Romanesco, in traditional local recipes, and Orte in Cantina, featuring the tasting of local enogastronomic excellences for two Sundays in February.