Orvieto, Italy: The Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena and the Cathedral of Orvieto
About Orvieto:
The Northwestern part of Italy is home to quite a few towns and cities that offer glimpses of Catholic history without the huge crowds of Rome or Florence. One of these is Orvieto, a town that is pedestrian-friendly.
Orvieto takes on special meaning for Catholics, because it is here that a Eucharistic Miracle is preserved……in the Cathedral of Orvieto.; although the Eucharistic Miracle actually occurred in the town of Bolsena, approximately 20 miles away.
About the Cathedral in Orvieto:
The Cathedral..often just shown as the “Duomo” on many maps, is named Saint Mary of the Assumption (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) originally planned as a residence for the Pope; but as history unfolded, the Papacy moved elsewhere and that helps explain why such a magnificent structure can be found in a town that historically has not had great significance.
The mosaics of the facade of Orvieto Cathedral tell the story and scenes from the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: the Nativity, the Assumption into Heaven, and the Coronation. In the segments on either side of the gables there are images of The Annunciation, The Apostles in Ecstasy for the Assumption of the Virgin, Joachim and Anna.
It should be noted that the Cathedral also has some of the most magnificent frescoes to be found anywhere. The San Brizio Chapel, depicting visions of heaven and hell, certainly rival those of the Sistine Chapel….. at least, in our humble opinion. You will find some beautiful frescoes by the early Renaissance painter, Luca Signorelli, depicting the Preaching of the Anti-Christ, of the Last Judgment, and of the Resurrection of the body, certainly inspired Michelangelo’s own masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel.
About the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena:
Many of these miracles seem to occur to those who have lost faith in the transubstantiation (wherein the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ). Such was the case in 1263, when a visiting priest stopped in Bolsena to celebrate Mass at Saint Christina’s Church in Bolsena. He had begun to doubt that the Eucharist was really the Body and Blood of Christ; however, the priest was shocked when the host began to bleed right after the prayer of consecration. Unable to hide this fact, he interrupted the Mass and went to nearby Orvieto, where Pope Urban IV was in residence.
After a thorough fact-finding investigation the Pope ordered that the miraculous host and the linen altar cloth (Corporal) stained with blood be brought to Orvieto and placed on display. It is still on display today for pilgrims to see, although there is an admission charge for the Cathedral as far as we know.
Orvieto and Bolsena are only about 10 miles apart, so it is easy to combine both. Certainly viewing the Eucharistic Miracle in Orvieto is the number one priority of most pilgrims, but many are also interested in visiting the Church of Saint Christina in Bolsena where the miracle actually took place.
Orvieto has several festivals throughout the year, but the Feast of Corpus Christi is the most prominent. On that date the Corporal of Bolsena is paraded through the town. The procession is composed of all the municipal courts of the time, coats of arms, and weapons of the noble families of Orvieto. Check to see if the dates match up to your travel plans. You can see a video of the procession here (almost an hour long).
Traveling to Orvieto:
Orvieto is about 90 miles south of Florence and can be reached by train, car or some airlines as well. Get train & bus schedules, see fares & buy tickets here
The trains station is at the bottom of the hill and there is a funicular that will take you up to the town itself.
It is also close to Assisi, Siena and other popular Italian “Hill Towns”.
Address: Piazza del Duomo, 26, 05018 Orvieto TR Italy
GPS coordinates: 42° 43′ 5.3868” N, 12° 6′ 40.4028” E
Tel: (+39) 0763 341167
e-mail: opsm@opsm.it
Click here for the official website for the Cathedral in Orvieto.
For some great photos of Orvieto click this link
⇐ Back to Catholic places of interest in Italy
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