La Passeggiata d’Orvieto

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La Passeggiata d’Orvieto

November 4, 2013 by orvietoorbust

The clock tower bells ring out to announce it’s six o’clock. I jump up, grab my coat, obligatory scarf and run out the front door towards the main street of town! No one loves Sunday passeggiata (evening stroll) more than I do!

All over Italy this ritual plays out as streets swell with well-dressed residents parading about to show off their new shoes or newest love affairs. Back and forth, up and down, back and forth.

I merge into the flow, but unfortunately find myself stuck behind three generations of a family: Grandparents, parents, children, baby buggy and even the dog. Linked arm-and-arm they’ve spread themselves across the width of the street like an Italian game of Red Rover. I wait for a slight opening in the chain and squirm my way around the group, rushing to secure a place on the bench in front of the gelateria – my absolute favorite spot for people watching.

It’s here at the intersection of Corso Cavour and Via Del Duomo that foot traffic builds to critical mass, bottlenecking to create a kind of pedestrian gridlock.

I’m so happy to have scored a front row seat for La Passeggiata d’Orvieto. All that’s missing is the popcorn.

*”Lo struscio” (I have been told by a local) is more often used to describe a city stroll – “La Passeggiata” is a walk in the countryside.

by Toni DeBella

Posted in Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria | Tagged evening strolls in Italy, La Passeggiata, Orvieto passeggiata | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on November 4, 2013 at 8:23 am | Reply Janet

This sounds just lovely. Wish I were there!
- on November 4, 2013 at 8:39 am | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Janet…and what’s stopping you? toni
on November 4, 2013 at 8:43 am | Reply Denise

Love this tradition! Can’t wait to be back for it.
- on November 4, 2013 at 8:48 am | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  D, How many days, months, hours, minutes and seconds are left? xxo. t
  - on November 4, 2013 at 8:56 am deniseblackman
    
    4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes. Excited that our son and his wife WILL be able to come visit along with our daughter! Xoxo
on November 4, 2013 at 3:43 pm | Reply Robert Zingle

Witnessed the passeggiata in Norcia a few years ago. Wonderful tradition and experience.
- on November 5, 2013 at 1:18 am | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Hi Robert. It is. Venturing out in the evenings to see and be seen brings a community together and keeps everyone connected (and up to date on gossip). Thanks for stopping by. Hugs. toni
on November 12, 2013 at 8:38 pm | Reply SearchingForBerniniL

Passeggiata just isn’t the same in NYC, fighting the crowds, eyes blearing from the wind (it’s COLD now), cars honking and not an aperol spritz in sight. Sigh. Ti manca!
- on November 13, 2013 at 1:02 am | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Carissima. Yeah, well if it makes you feel any better, it’s getting cold here too (not snowing, however).I’m afraid Spritz season is over and I am now ordering caffe corretti for aperitivo! Hugs.
on November 20, 2013 at 5:40 am | Reply Karen

Lovely description of a lovely tradition. Thanks for sharing it! I hope we can meet in person the next time I’m there (early Spring).
on July 23, 2015 at 1:47 am | Reply ishitasood

Hello! Just stumbled upon your blog 🙂 So wonderful, Orvieto is so so beautiful. I love Italy and I blog on it (www.ishitasood.blogspot.in)
- on July 25, 2015 at 6:47 am | Reply orvietoorbust
  
  Thank you so much for stumbling….ha! Small world re the Italy Book Tours. 🙂

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Orvieto or Bust:

Stories of a Life in Italy

La Passeggiata d’Orvieto

The clock tower bells ring out to announce it’s six o’clock. I jump up, grab my coat, obligatory scarf and run out the front door towards the main street of town! No one loves Sunday passeggiata (evening stroll) more than I do!

All over Italy this ritual plays out as streets swell with well-dressed residents parading about to show off their new shoes or newest love affairs. Back and forth, up and down, back and forth.

It’s here at the intersection of Corso Cavour and Via Del Duomo that foot traffic builds to critical mass, bottlenecking to create a kind of pedestrian gridlock.

I’m so happy to have scored a front row seat for La Passeggiata d’Orvieto. All that’s missing is the popcorn.

*”Lo struscio” (I have been told by a local) is more often used to describe a city stroll – “La Passeggiata” is a walk in the countryside.

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Orvieto or Bust:

Stories of a Life in Italy

La Passeggiata d’Orvieto

The clock tower bells ring out to announce it’s six o’clock. I jump up, grab my coat, obligatory scarf and run out the front door towards the main street of town! No one loves Sunday passeggiata (evening stroll) more than I do!

All over Italy this ritual plays out as streets swell with well-dressed residents parading about to show off their new shoes or newest love affairs. Back and forth, up and down, back and forth.

It’s here at the intersection of Corso Cavour and Via Del Duomo that foot traffic builds to critical mass, bottlenecking to create a kind of pedestrian gridlock.

I’m so happy to have scored a front row seat for La Passeggiata d’Orvieto. All that’s missing is the popcorn.

*”Lo struscio” (I have been told by a local) is more often used to describe a city stroll – “La Passeggiata” is a walk in the countryside.

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