When we decided to move to Orvieto for our gap year, we did so based on a number of criteria. We wanted to be in a small-medium sized city with reliable health care, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, restaurants, an active piazza & passagiata life. Number one on our criteria list was great transportation. By great we wanted to easily take public transportation which included reliable buses and have a direct route to Rome and Florence. Orvieto offers all of this and so much more (more about Orvieto in another blog) and naturally, the home prices and demand reflect this with significantly higher prices. While Orvieto is an ideal place for a vacation home, it's unfortunately out of our budget! The alternative? Look further afield to neighboring cities or in outlying “frazione” - small villages or hamlets outside the main town.
Wanting to see as much of Italy as we could during our time there, we visited dozens of nearby villages exploring the unique charms, nuances and overall atmosphere each offered. Orte, a hill town just 40 minutes from Orvieto caught our attention and we traveled easily by train to investigate. The town sits high upon a tufa hill with sweeping views of the Tiber River and Latium countryside. A medium-sized city with about 9,000 inhabitants, it reflects a more authentic Italian lifestyle and isn't well-known by tourists. It has a strategic location for both rail and road connections so we gave it a thumbs up for convenience.
Interested in learning a bit of Italian or brushing up before your next visit? I used Pimsleur's beginner's course and really enjoyed the lessons and structure. If you would like to try it for free click here-https://offers.pimsleur.com/free-trial-1404
This site contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission (at no cost to you)
if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.
As is our routine - we made sure to enjoy a meal, coffee or aperitivo in a piazza and pop into any signficant attraction including museums, visitor centers, churches or exhibits. We walked endlessly everywhere leaving no winding street, vista or feral cat unseen. We were delighted to discover several outdoor murals and clear signs of a creative and artist community present.
Historical Center
The historical center begins on Piazza della Libertà, the ancient core. Fanning out from there, you will find a labyrinth of cobble stone streets and squares with artistic touches, murals and welcoming home entrances, balconies and lots of charm.
Highlights - Things to See
- Subterrean Orte - Underground system of tunnels, cisterns and wells. Guided services offer glimpse of the life continuity from the end of Bronze Age (12th century B.C ) to current day.
- The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
- Church of San Pietro Church of San Biagio
- Diocesan Museum of Orte
-
Municipal Archaeological Museum
-
Museum of the Confraternities
Transportation
Orte Railway station forms part of the Florence–Rome railway and the Ancona–Orte railway. It is situated in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, in the locality of Orte Scalo, approximately two kilometres (at the bottom of the hill ) southeast of the town centre. We found the bus that stops at the train station shuttling people to the top of the town reliable and quick.
Although the town boasts 9,000 residents, it is pretty quiet and serene overall. There was evidence of renovations throughout the town and we spotted several "vendesi" (for sale signs). Location wise, Orte is great for travel throughout Italy. You can access the freeway, trains and buses in minutes. Home prices are reasonable and some even very cheap. The town is equipped with all of the conveniences one would need and close to major hubs of commerce for additional choices. We could see why having a holiday home here would be appealing. Thoughts?
Cheap Property Listings in Orte under $50K!
According to the listing website this is located in the historic center on the first floor of a small building housing just 2 apartments. From scouring many listings, I can tell you the biggest feature here seems to be the communal terrace with views for miles! The home looks well cared for and would benefit from some updating, but looks livable as is. Could this be a possibility for you?
As per the website it instructs interested prospects to contact for more info. Here is a link to the real estate site:
https://www.idealista.it/en/immobile/27601785/
Cheap Property Listings in Orte Under $25K
Basic features -20,000 €
- 40 m² built
- 2 rooms
- 1 bathroom
- Second hand/good condition
- Air conditioning
This listing doesn't describe many details except the basic size and price. Looks like what it lacks in size, it makes up with views. I'm thinking small and in the center makes it a simple lock and leave. Appears to be in a prime cliff location overlooking the valley. Would be interesting to see in person because it seems almost too good to be true at just 20,000 Euro. Definitely due diligence would be paramount!
Here is a link to the real estate site: https://www.idealista.it/en/immobile/28654105/
Note: I am not a real estate agent, nor do I sell property in Italy or receive sales commissions from listings. I have not verified that this information is still current, but have obtained it through searching for cheap homes in areas where we would consider purchasing. This home listing is not a recommendation but an example of homes and prices in the general area. You are advised to do a thorough investigation before completing a purchase by contacting an agent or owner, as well as conduct your own due diligence with the proper authorities involved with real estate prior to entering and agreement or completing a purchase. Real Estate Property photo credits go to the agent (s) or listing publishing entity.
Add comment
Comments