Tag Archives: orvieto

Churches, Churches everywhere Churches


Ever since our very first trip to Europe, we’ve been obsessed with churches.  Wait…Stop, If you have not traveled abroad yet you don’t have the right picture in your mind because these are probably nothing, and I mean nothing like the place you go to worship on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings.  Nope, these places are amazing! 

Orvieto Duomo

 

Take for example the Duomo of Orvieto, Italy.  Duomo is the term for a church that is either a present or former cathedral.  If there is no bishop currently at the location it is not called a Cathedral, but still can be a Duomo.  Get It?  The Duomo of Orvieto is a 14th century cathedral in Umbria, central Italy which actually sits on a volcanic plug (a volcanic landform created when magma hardens within the vent of an active volcano)!   But that is not what makes it special; the façade of the Duomo is one of the greatest masterpieces of the Late Middle Ages.  Most impressive is the beautiful mosaic of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary on the top gable of the cathedral.  If you can get past the absolutely phenomenal front and walk inside you’ll find 2 frescoed chapels depicting the Judgment Day.  

No trip to Tuscany is complete without a stop to see this beautiful Duomo.  

Wine-centric Italy 2014

In October 2014 we are hosting a very special small group wine experience to Italy with Vino Etcetera sommelier Corienne Winkels.

Our very first information night will be Tuesday January 7, 2014 at Vino Etcetera, 120 E Wisconsin Ave, Oconomowoc, WI.  Please RSVP (262-538-2140 or sue@getaway.travel) if you plan on attending.  We promise lots of fun and perhaps even some Italian Wine!

Tuscany

So what’s so great about this trip?  Only 24 people are going, so it promises to be an intimate and relaxed tour.  And if you’re wondering how much fun we have – just ask anyone that went with us to Burgundy & Provence in 2013.  Our France wine trip was a most memorable and fantastic time, with Italy shaping up every bit as amazing.

During our tour you will discover: The Eternal City – Rome, the worlds smallest state – Vatican City, the classic Tuscan hill town of Cortona, Umbria’s grand hill town of Orvieto, the picturesque renaissance town of Montepulciano, the small town with the powerful wine – Brunello, the medieval city of Siena and the unofficial capital of Chianti – Greve.

01-Cortona Italy 5-27-2010 8-50-08 AM 3872x2592

We have lots of wine tastings and winery visits planned – note these are not ones found on “normal” tourist routes, but quite boutique and hand selected just for this trip.  Preliminary details are available on our web page, with more information coming soon.