The Dying City in Italy
Civita di Bagnoregio
It strikes sadness in anyone’s heart to think of a dying city in Italy, but one such iconic town was placed on the World Monuments Fund’s 2006 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites, due to ongoing threats from centuries of erosion and unregulated tourism.Civita di Bagnoregio is an ancient Etruscantown with medieval architecture perched on a rocky precipice, floating in a sea of canyon-like rock formations in suspended solitude.
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Its unrivaled beauty with a narrow footbridge that connects it to the rest of the world has graced postcards and inspired artists. Its isolation has prevented modern society from invading its appearance, allowing for its several centuries’ old buildings to dominate the town.Erosion of the brittle volcanic tuff beneath the city has been accelerating since the 19th century, but since 2004 attempts have begone to be made to reinforce the town and and prevent, if not delay, its demise.In spite of its frail condition, Civita di Bagnoregio attracts many tourists each year, supplementing its few local residents with income. Its sparse population varies from around 12 people in the winter, to over 100 during the summer, so it’s a quiet and peaceful place.
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If you’d like to visit Civita di Bagnoregio, here is what to expect:
Civita di Bangoregio stands at approximately 443 meters above sea level, and it’s connected to the main land by a half mile long footbridge. About two thirds way across the footbridge you will encounter an uphill incline that may pose a level of difficulty for some who have difficulty walking.
There are plenty of restaurants to chose from for a relaxing lunch, cafes where you can enjoy an espresso beneath an umbrella shade overlooking the piazzas, or a glass of wine at the variety of enotecas.Shopping opportunities for local produce, handmade crafts, ceramics, souvenirs and natural skin products are also available.The town is quite small, it doesn’t require a lot of walking to cover the entire town to admire and photograph its beautiful architecture. Feel free to take lots of photos, you never know how long this lovely town will be around as we know it….Civita di Bagnoregio is featured in one of the tours via our sister company Stefano Rome Tours: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/orvieto-civitabagnoregio/
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If you’d like to watch the video on this Civita di Bagnoregio Tour from Rome, please visit Stefano Rome Tours’ YouTube Channel.
You can see more photos taken in Civita di Bagnoregio on some of our tours in our Flickr photo gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/romecabs/5761689524/in/set-72157626810075840
Do you have a favorite town in Italy you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear from you in the comments box below.
Sharing is fun: if you enjoyed reading this, pass it along to someone else who might enjoy it as well!Thank you for stopping by and reading our post. We look forward to being of service to you in the future and seeing you in Rome soon!
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!~The Rome Cabs Team
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RomeCabs Transfers and Tours in Italy 
Beautiful. I would love to walk that road, up into the city,and explore each corner. Thank you!
Thank you!! It’s quite a lovely road, the view around it is absolutely spectacular….an incomparable landscape that looks alien to the region. We hope you will go and spend a day there, you’ll love it!!!
We will go to Tuscany this summer, by motorbike. I have just emailed the link of your post to my partner. Perhaps… 😀
That sounds like a great idea! Let us know what you think of Civita di Bagnoregio if you visit it. We’ve seen quite a bit of cyclists visit the town. There is a large parking area at the foot of the bridge. Thank you for sharing our post with your partner, really appreciate it!