It was during the sojourn of Urban IV. at Orvieto,
between 1262 and 1264, that a miracle was believed to
have taken place at Bolsena, a town in this diocese, which
event tradition assumes to have been the suggestive cause
that led to the erection of the superb Cathedral, now almost
the sole attraction that ever brings tourists to this quiet
city. But a learned ecclesiastic, who wrote the history of
this Cathedral — I refer to Delia Valle and his Storia del
Duomo d Orvieto, published at Rome in 1791 — owns that
its origin is ascribed by some to desire, on the part of the
citizens, to do honour to the Blessed Virgin, as the Assunta

* Nicholas Breakspeare. In the compilation of ancient papal bio-
graphies found in Muratori {Rer. Ital. Script.), it is expressly stated
that our countryman was the first Pope who ever visited Orvieto ; and
that it was through his exertions this city was resubjected to the tiara,
after having been long alienated. The fullest account I can refer to of
the other papal sojourns here is in Moroni, Dizionario di Erudizione.
212



THE GOTHIC : ORVIETO

(i.e., in her Assumption), revered as their special patroness.
That story of the Bolsena Miracle, immortalised by Raffaele
at the Vatican, presents one of the most singular examples
of the acceptance, and intensely - felt influences in the
popular mind, of the miraculous, admitted without one of
the proofs or investigations that modern intellect would,
in every such case, demand. And the two versions of this
same story differ in many essential points ; both being
given, yet without any notice of such discrepancy, in Padre
Delia Valle's learned monograph.
