Spectacular views over medieval Orvieto, Umbria

Whenever I visit towns or cities, I seek out the highest point to enjoy birds’ eye views over it. Strangely, I’d never been to the Umbrian town of Orvieto’s highest point.

So when I found myself exploring this picturesque medieval town earlier this month with my two sons, I set out to remedy this.

My children are as obsessed as I am to visit skyscrapers, cathedral bell towers, medieval towers – what have you – when we travel.

So they were thrilled to climb up the 47-meter, 13th century Torre del Moro (Moro Tower), originally known as the Torre del Papa, when it was constructed in the late thirteenth century.

Since my younger son is  a sprinter, he did what he always does and sprinted on ahead. My older son and I took it at a much more leisurely pace.

In 1866, the medieval watch tower was converted to a clock tower, and a mechanical clock was set up and bells hoisted to the top. You see all four clock faces as you are climbing up.

The observation deck offers spectacular views of the medieval city, and views to the pretty countryside surrounding it. We had a good time following the winding city streets from above, pointing out the routes we’d taken around the city and the monuments we had already seen, and those we had yet to see.

When you’re next in this picturesque medieval town, don’t miss out on views over Orvieto from its medieval watch tower.