Look!: Ancient Caves Come with Houses in Orvieto Italy

Look!: Ancient Caves Come with Houses in Orvieto
Italy

In Orvieto, Italy, when you purchase a house, you gain all the rights to the caves below your land. Since the 9th century, the natural Orvieto caves have been expanded for many different uses including storing water, livestock, wine or grain. In Medieval Times, some caves were used as garbage dumps, leaving a treasure trove for archaeologists today. Locals regularly discover ancient artifacts in their caves. They also transform the caves for modern purposes. More photos and info on the caves below the jump...

Throughout the centuries, the Orvieto caves have served as great hide-outs during troubled times and sieges. Even a Pope hid there!

Now, the caves are commonly used as fridges and wine cellars. The bigger caves host restaurants. Locals love to rent the cool spaces out for large parties! What would you do if you discovered an ancient cave below your house?

To learn more about the Orvieto and its caves, visit the UNESCO website description of Orvieto.

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Comments (8)

That is so cool! I would definetely use it as a wine cellar if I discobvered one below my home.

posted by Snugglitas on August 14th 2008 at 5:36am
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i would keep my children down there.

posted by christinesass on August 14th 2008 at 5:51am
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I guess I would have parties, as mentioned in the post. I wonder about the soundproofing, though

posted by laddibugg on August 14th 2008 at 6:03am
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Wow. Amazing to be so bonded to history like that.

posted by selena on August 14th 2008 at 6:20am
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my boyfriend could then really have his own "man cave" like he calls his man room.

posted by Soulstice8 on August 14th 2008 at 6:32am
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christinesass, sooo tempting - but it would interfere with my drinking, so mine would have to stay in their cupboard upstairs.
heehee

posted by everydaydiva on August 14th 2008 at 6:51am
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I would have to get a batmobile.

Seriously, it would be so cool.

I stayed in a small town called Laguardia in Spain's Rioja region and the entire town was built on top of a system of caves. In fact, the whole area underneath the walled city was like swiss cheese.

In it's day, the people of Laguardia would harvest the grapes outside of the city and bring them to their winery within the city walls where the grapes would be pressed and the juice would be funneled underground into the fermentation tanks below the city. Now, because of the weight restrictions within the city, wine making has become impractical because trucks full of grapes are too heavy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_chel/sets/72157602199337624/

posted by art on August 14th 2008 at 7:10am
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Oh, Orvieto is so wonderful. I had my first pasta with black truffles there, after wandering around for hours, siteseeing, and smelling this heavenly fragrance.

posted by pvett on August 14th 2008 at 10:38am
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