Umbria Between Orvieto and Todi

• Beginning in Orvieto, the itinerary moves south, in the initial stretch, into the valley of the river Paglia which empties into the Tiber just before the town of Baschi, a typical medieval hamlet perched on a ridge cut through by the Tiber. The state highway climbs up along the wooded slopes of Monte Croce di Serra - 994 m - to the typical towns of Montecchio and Civitella del Lago. The panorama opens on the entire Tiber Valley, from the Nature Reserve of Alviano to the Lake of Corbara, and the cliff of Orvieto, up to the distant mountains on the horizon. Back down on the state highway, the route runs along the Lake of Corbara, which stretches out in the gorge of the Forello, up to Todi, a principal tourist attraction in Umbria. Of particular interest from a tourist-religious point of view along the lake are the Sanctuary of the Pasquarella and the Convent of Pantanelli, founded by St. Francis of Assisi. On your way back from Todi, you can take the state highway that climbs up along the slopes of Mount Peglia. An interesting deviation is to Titignano, a 16th cent. fortified villa, with its hamlet. Prodo, a bit further on, still has its fine medieval castle, built in the local pink stone. A secondary road skirts the Lake of Corbara (dirt road for Osa or the slightly better road of the Fossatello). A bit further on, at Colonnetta di Prodo, another state highway leads to Monte Peglia, with the Nature Reserve of the "Sette Frati" on its slopes and the town of San Venanzo. After leaving the Castle of Corbara, back to Orvieto.

Vineyards, hills and historical hamlets

• The entire area is basically hilly and the clay soil is cut into by deep ravines (calanchi) along the valley between Fabro and Allerona Scalo. Vineyards and olive groves characterize the landscape. The area of Fabro and the upper Orvieto district are also known for truffles, both white and black. A stunning view of the city of Orvieto presents itself from the state highway for Viterbo. A deviation leads to the nearby Castel Rubello, with its castle, and the painted Etruscan tomb of the Hescanas and the town of Porano, with the Villa Paolina and its spacious park, lately C.N.R. headquarters for forestry. Back on the road for Viterbo, a bit further on is the turnoff for Castelgiorgio and Castel Viscardo, kept watch on by its medieval castle. After passing through the hamlet of Monte Rubiaglio, the road moves up the valley of the Paglia to Allerona, a typical hill town with the ruins of its feudal castle. Still further on is the Nature Reserve (Park) of Villalba with picnic facilities. The inhabited centers of Fabro and Carnaiola have been built around their medieval castles, of which the one in Parrano is of particular interest. The hamlet of Salci merits a visit. For those interested in underground archaeology, there are the "devil's dens" (le "tane del diavolo") and the Forra di Parrano for those whose hobby is white-water rafting. A deviation leads to the towns of Monteleone and Montegabbione, and the ruins of the castles of Castel di Fiori and Montegiove.
  On the way back to Orvieto, a stop in the medieval town of Ficulle with its traditional terra cotta workshops is called for. The well preserved castle of the Sala is surrounded by vineyards.

Nature trails
The numerous marked trails throughout the district of Orvieto are part of a network of routes, 255 km long, connected to other networks in the surrounding territories, such as the Amerino to the south and the Trasimeno to the north, and the Nature Reserve of Monte Rufeno in Lazio.
Trails beginning in Orvieto:

• Itinerary 4 - partial version - Time required 3 hours - Porta Maggiore - up the Tamburino which still has a stretch of original Roman paving - Sassotagliato with the big rock which legend says was miraculously split to let the Holy Altar Cloth from Bolsena pass. A fine view of Orvieto is to be had from the state highway -The trail cuts through a wood of interest to the nature lover, with Turkey and durmast oaks - Deviation for the hamlets of Sugano and Canonica.
• Itinerary 6 - Time required 2 hours - Porta Maggiore - Roman-medieval aqueduct up to the Capuchin Convent - Hamlet of Castel Rubello, with deviation to the Etruscan tomb of the Hescanas where traces of paintings can still be seen - Porano, town enclosed in walls, located on an outcropping of tuff.