 |
| 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 .
