Orvieto: Pozzo della Cava Underground Ticket & Audio Guide
Orvieto caves echo with Etruscan secrets and family stories
You’ll step through Orvieto’s medieval district into nine underground caves at Pozzo della Cava, guided by voices telling stories of Etruscans and Renaissance popes. Touch ancient pottery shards, feel cool stone under your fingers, and catch glimpses of burial tombs—all with your entry ticket and audio guide in hand. It’s history you can almost breathe in.
20m–1h 30m
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Pozzo della Cava underground site
- Enter medieval district of Orvieto
- Visit Pozzo della Cava well
- Explore nine surrounding caves
- See Etruscan cistern and burial tombs
- View medieval pottery workshop and tools
- Discover medieval pits and wine cellar
The Experience
“Don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights,” someone behind me whispered, but I couldn’t help it. The Pozzo della Cava in Orvieto is deeper than I expected—cool air rising up from the shaft, a faint earthy smell that reminded me of wet clay. Our tickets got us past the little shop (run by the family who still owns the place) and straight into these winding tunnels. I kept thinking about how many centuries had passed since anyone first dug here. The walls are rough, sometimes damp to the touch, and there’s this strange hush—like even my shoes didn’t want to make noise on the old stones.
The audio guide was actually helpful (I usually get bored fast), especially when it explained how Pope Clement VII expanded an Etruscan well during some siege I’d never heard of. In one cave, our guide pointed out a pile of broken majolica plates and ceramic tools—leftovers from a medieval pottery workshop. Li laughed when I tried to pronounce “majolica” in Italian—probably butchered it. There’s even an old wine cellar carved right into the tufa rock; I ran my hand along the wall and felt how cold it stayed, even though outside Orvieto was bright and noisy with tourists.
I didn’t expect to find burial tombs down there, honestly. It made me pause for a second—thinking about all those lives stacked beneath the city. The whole place feels like Orvieto’s memory bank, just hidden under your feet while everyone above sips espresso or snaps photos of the cathedral. You can wander at your own pace (the ticket includes an audio guide in English or Italian), which is good because I needed a few extra minutes in that last cave just listening to nothing but water dripping somewhere far off. Still think about that silence sometimes.
What’s included
Your visit includes admission tickets for all nine caves at Pozzo della Cava plus an audio guide in your choice of language—so you can wander through Etruscan wells and medieval workshops at your own pace before heading back up into daylight again.
Operated by Pozzo della Cava
Traveler reviews
Top questions
Is Pozzo della Cava suitable for children?
Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels and families can visit together.
What languages are available for the audio guide?
The audio guide is available in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
Where is Pozzo della Cava located in Orvieto?
It's located in the medieval district at the heart of Orvieto.
How long does it take to visit Pozzo della Cava?
You can explore at your own pace; most visitors spend 45-60 minutes inside.
Are service animals allowed inside?
Yes, service animals are allowed at Pozzo della Cava.
Is public transportation available nearby?
Yes, there are public transportation options close to Pozzo della Cava.
Does my admission ticket include a guide?
Your ticket includes an audio guide but not a live tour guide.
Orvieto: Pozzo della Cava Underground Ticket & Audio Guide
20m–1h 30m
from € 5 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.4697 reviews
