Most of the top 10 tourist attractions in Orte are in the historical center of the city, which towers over the surrounding new buildings and where some of the houses sometimes seem to be about to fall off the perpendicular rock face.
Top 10 tourist attractions Orte
1. Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral
The Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral was built in the 9th century. However, renovations over the centuries have altered its appearance considerably. Although the church is in Orte, it is the seat of the diocese of Civita Castellana.
2. Palazzo Vescovile
The Palazzo Vescovile (“Bishop’s Palace”) is right next to the cathedral.
3. Archaeological Museum
The Museo Comunale Civico Archeologico has a collection of art that includes objects from Etruscan and Roman times, as well as from the Middle Ages. The museum is housed in the ancient Church of Sant’Antonio.
4. Museo delle Confraternite
The Museo delle Confraternite (“Museum of the Brotherhoods”) is located in the sacristy of Santa Croce Church. Once a year, on Good Friday, various objects on display are brought out to be paraded in a solemn procession through the streets of the city.
5. San Silvestro Church and Episcopal Museum
The former San Silvestro Church now serves as the seat of the Museo Diocesano. The highlight of this museum is a fragment of an 8th century mosaic called the “Byzantine Madonna”.
6. San Biagio Church
The San Biagio Church was built in the 13th century, and used to belong to the Roman Santo Spirito in Saxia hospital.
7. Sant’Agostino Church
The Sant’Agostino Church was built by combining three religious buildings from different eras, namely the Santa Croce Church, the Oratory of Sant’Egidio and an earlier version of the church, also dedicated to Sant’Agostino.
8. Santuario della Santissima Trinità
The Santuario della Santissima Trinità is a small, white church partly carved into the tuff hillside. Saint Bernardino used to live some time in one of the caves.
9. Palazzo dell’Orologio
The Palazzo dell’Orologio was built at the beginning of the 17th century and used to be the Palazzo della Podestà. It stands next to the San Giovanni in Fonte Baptistry in the Piazza del Plebiscito.
10. Huis van Judas
The Casa di Giuda (“House of Judas”) has a medieval portico. It is named for a former occupant who betrayed his fellow townsmen to an enemy during the Middle Ages.