(the photo on the left is not Matthew’s)
Orvieto is a small city perched on the summit of a giant stone in Umbria, Italy. It was inhabited by the Estrucans until the 3rd Century B.C. when they were conquered by the Romans after a two year siege.
There is an intricate system of man made caves below the city. The Etruscan’s started the caves prior to Roman the invasion. They dug wells (1st picture) to help withstand sieges (this is per our guide… or perhaps they just liked not going down the steep cliffs to get water even when there was not a siege?). In the middle ages, many more caves were added and used for storage, workshops, olive presses (3rd picture) and pigeon cotes (last picture). There are now strict rules against enlarging or adding to the caves because they have discovered that one third of the city has caves underneath.
Orvieto Cathedral, 14th Century
St. Patrick’s well was built between 1527 and 1537. It has a double helix staircase that leads to the bottom and back up. Apparently, this is so that pack animals could carry water back up without having to turn around and pass other pack animals.
One of these things is not like the others… Matthew and the kids just about tumbled over laughing at my photo. They say I am falling, not jumping. I think Matthew didn’t catch me at the apex of my jump.
Those are some really cool caves.
I think you are right about your photo!!