Logistics & Accommodations
Orvieto is a small town in the Italian region of Umbria, and it is one of the jewels of Central Italy. It has a rich history: its name comes from Latin urbs vetus, “old town”, which means that it was already considered old at the times of the Roman Empire. It is nowadays renowned especially for the splendid palaces and churches, dating from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, when it belonged to the papal territory and hosted several popes – Nicholas IV even chose it over Rome as the seat of the Curia. Orvieto boasts an impressive scenery: the historical city center is in fact built on a cliff of volcanic tuff, with the modern town spreading at its feet.
Orvieto is also in the almost exact center of Italy. Assisi, Rome and Florence are all at a 2h ride distance by train.
The interior of the Church of S.t Dominic, Orvieto
Thomas Aquinas spent in Orvieto four years, from 1261 to 1265, before being sent to Rome. Here he preached mainly in the church of Saint Dominic, where his teaching altar can still be seen.
The retreat will take place in a convent, Istituto San Lodovico, whose oldest building dates back to the middle ages. Occupied by different religious orders from the XIV to the XIX century, since 1834 it is managed by the Sisters of the Company of Mary, Our Lady, who run it as a retreat center and B&B. It is possible to sleep at the monastery, see the accommodation section for more details.
How to Get there
The closest international airport is Rome Fiumicino. Frequent trains connect Rome Airport to the main station of Roma Termini (30 min), and then Roma Termini to Orvieto (1h 15min).
https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html (website of Trenitalia, the major Italian railway company)
https://www.trainline.eu/ (portal for all major European train companies)
Orvieto’s train station, Orvieto Scalo, is located at the feet of the town’s cliff. A cable car departs from the square in front of the station to reach the historical city center. Depending on where you have to go, though, you may want to take a bus or a taxi.
Accommodation
A single room at the I
stituto San Lodovico
Istituto San Lodovico offers to the retreat participants a discounted rate of 33,5$ (30 EUR) per night, with accommodation in single or double (twin) room, with private bathroom, including a simple breakfast. In a few weeks it will be possible to book this accommodation through our website.
Istituto San Lodovico (http://www.monasterosanlodovico.it)
Piazza Ranieri, 5 - 05018 Orvieto (TR))
The monastery rests on the opposite side of the historical town with respect to the cable car. It’s a 15 minutes walk (the historical town is rather small) from the cable car station.
By bus from the train station you have two options:
- Cable car + Circular C bus (from the Cable Car station to Piazza Repubblica)
- Circular B bus (from the train station to Piazza Ranieri)