Saturday, April 6, 2013

Entrance Ticket for Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita  from a distance, photo by Giulia Pancani 





Hostaria del Ponte, lunch with a view over   Civita di Bagnoregio 

For  decades tourists have flocked  to the shrinking island of tufa that is Civita  di Bagnoregio, an iconic  village  surrounded  by calanchi  and a moon-like landscape.  
Mercatello -ready to cross the bridge  


main street, Civita 

 Few visitors realize  why  the town looks  like it does, why it was built in this spot or what is  happening to it,  but its  uniqueness  makes it stand  out from all the other  nearby hill towns of central Italy.
Duomo  in the main piazza, Civita

Perched on a similar cliff  nearby, Orvieto is  reached by a funicolare and is famed for its  Duomo and Etruscan sites; Montefiascone on Lake Bolsena  has its Est Est Est wine  and views; while the provincial capital, Viterbo  owes  its fame to  San Pellegrino medieval quarter and the Papal Palace where the first papal conclave was held.


  Civita  has been hyped  as  "the dying city" by guidebooks for decades  and this  has turned  it into  a “must see” for Japanese tour groups and American back packers .


Palazzo Alemanni, the museum entrance  
By the end of April Civita di Bagnoregio will be the only town in Italy requiring an  entrance ticket for those who wish to visit. 
At the bridge leading over the ravine  there will be a ticket office run by the Pro Loco.

explanatory panels in English and Italian 
The town's Mayor  informs that the 3 euro ticket money collected will help monitor  the  situation and be used for the most urgent repairs.
Luca  and model of Civita 

 The ticket  includes entrance to the town as well as to a modern  Museo Geologico delle Frane where guests are informed of  the area's geology and the landslides that have plagued Civita  for  the past centuries.

virtual panorama of  Civita and the calanchi 


  

Geologist Luca shows  us the modern museum 
  
 There are several places to stay in the village, including this  high level historic residence, plus many agriturismo in the surrounding area.
Leaving  Civita 



 While you are in Bagnoregio, don't forget  to stop at the antique car museum .

7 comments:

  1. We'll be going there again near the end of May, and we'll gladly pay the 3 euro entrance fee.

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  2. 3 Euro is a steal. Now to track down a local place to stay next time I visit, and we're good to go. Thanks for the interesting (always) write-ups.

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  3. I am sorry to say I don't feel it is worth the Euros 3 entrance fee. I have visited several times and on each occasion was disappointed. Money certainly needs to be spent on the village for there are corners that appear a bit shabby, run-down and, dare I say it, dirty in places. I suppose the growing number of visitors has possibly had a detrimental effect on the fragile infrastructure but the few stores and cafes / restaurants in the village must benefit from the tourists? Surely there's some other way to generate cash to maintain the place? It sees a lot of Italian tourists too (especially out of Rome on weekends) and are local people today really going to fork out Euros 3 per person each? I don't think so and fear it could backfire.

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  4. grazie di tutto, a presto ciao
    Luca

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  5. Always reading your blog, always enjoy your info and pictures Mary Jane! Keep all the great info coming! Thank you!! Jamie Stoffel

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  6. To see that sort of beauty and history, 3 euros is nothing, it's peanuts! I'm surprised people would make a stink about having to pay such a measly sum for an amazing place.

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  7. I have a house in nearby Lubriano and I feel that 3 euros per visit is fair, even though it would be great to have a 'season ticket' for people like us who visit often. Civita is a magical place, and in order to 'maintain' the town, money needs to be made out of it. I think it is good to see local groups like the Pro Loco taking a proactive role. They also change for the Precepe Vivente which is totally fair given the expense of the scenography, it is stunning.

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