Orvieto — San Giovenale

Most of Orvieto’s historic center is from the Renaissance but there is a section of town that is much older. The church of San Giovenale’s bell tower dominates the cluster of medieval buildings dating back to the 11th century. They form the westernmost part of the town, and I have a good view of it from the terrace. The church dates back to 1004. Its frescoes are well-preserved but often incomplete which, combined with the absolute solitude of the church (it’s off the beaten path for tourists) gave the feeling of an archaeologist making a medieval discovery — straight from the pages of Dan Brown.Read more