Things to do in

Civita di Bagnoregio

Explore the historic village at a relaxing pace on this 1.5-hour guided tour. Discover the fascinating history of Civita di Bagnoregio through its well-preserved medieval buildings and complex geological evolution. Get to know 'the dying city' from a geological standpoint, as well as a historical one. Relive the different eras, each with its own legends and myths, and navigate the crumbling ruins 443 meters above sea level, built by the Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago. Learn the fascinating story behind the bridge to this suspended island and marvel at the famous road that leads to the acropolis of the city, where temples and public buildings stood in Etruscan times. Admire amazing structures such as Porta di Santa Maria, the monumental gateway to the city, or the Piazza Colesanti, and the House of San Bonaventura. Finally, arrive at the Garden of Poets. Finish your tour here and enjoy breathtaking views of the gullies.

First, get picked up from your hotel in central Rome or head to the meeting point in the city center. Board the coach and depart at 8 AM, setting off towards the ancient city of Bagnoregio in the Province of Viterbo in central Italy.  When you arrive, take a stroll around Civita di Bagnoregio which was founded by Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago. The town is noted for its striking position on top of a plateau between the two valleys called Fossato del Rio Torbido and Fossato del Rio Chiaro. Find out about how the settlement is also known as the 'dying town' and was historically accessed by a single road that led from the Tiber valley to Lake Bolsena.  Then, stop for a delicious lunch at a local Italian restaurant. In the afternoon, continue the tour to Orvieto, another small town of Etruscan origins where you can admire the magnificent 14th-century cathedral, a masterpiece of gothic architecture. Visit the remarkable Pozzo di San Patrizio, a historic well that was built by architect-engineer Antonio da Sangallo the Younger of Florence in the 16th Century.  Finally, return to Rome where you will be dropped off at the meeting point in the city center.

Cross the 300-meter bridge into this ancient city and explore its old houses, narrow streets, and charming squares. Located in Tuscia on the border between Tuscany and Lazio, Civita is called the dying city because the land on which it was constructed is slowly falling away into the Valle dei Calanchi below. Enjoy views of the surrounding valley while learning the history of this city from its founding by the Etruscans 2,500 years ago to its perilous present. Travel back in time listening to stories of Civita's grand past and pass under the Romanesque Arch at the entrance of the city knowing that in a few decades it may cease to exist.

Civita di Bagnoregio is located in Tuscia on the border between Tuscany and Lazio. It is called the "dying city" because the land on which it stands is slowly falling away and will inevitably disappear when the final pieces crumble into the spectacular Valle dei Calanchi below. Knowing this, and knowing that nothing can be done to prevent it makes your visit all the more special, eternal and timeless. This is the feeling that makes it unique and marvelous to the people who have experienced the dying city. Connected to the rest of the world by a three hundred meter bridge, Civita di Bagnoregio is a charming village which will make you feel you are visiting a world that no longer exists. Made up of old houses, narrow streets and surrounded by beautiful landscapes, discover a walk through the scenes and stories of this place and choose the corner that sparks your intrigue the most. You can explore the Romanesque Arch at the entrance to Civita, the Renaissance Palace or the large Piazza (which is the site of donkey races on the first Sunday in June and the second Sunday of September and where all the remaining locals come to socialize in the evenings). After visit the dying city, you will head on to discover the Monster's Park situated in the town of Bomarzo. It is also called "Sacred Wood", and was designed by Prince Vicino Orsini and the great architect Pirro Ligorio in 1552. The park is unique and represents refined Italian style gardens that follow geometric and perspective rationality with embellishments such as wide terraces, fountains with water games and mannerist sculptures. You will also discover here eccentric wood blocks of peperino, emerging from the ground and sculpted into enigmatic figures of monsters, dragons, mythological subjects and exotic animals.

Get picked up from your accommodation in Tarquinia, Civitavecchia, Montalto di Castro, or Tuscania and travel 35 minutes by car to reach Civita di Bagnoregio. See firsthand why Civita is known as the dying city as its foundations slowly crumble and fall into the spectacular Valle dei Calanchi below. Knowing that this ancient city is soon to disappear – and that nothing can be done to prevent it – makes your visit all the more special. Check out the 2,500 year old Romanesque Arch built by the Etruscans 2,500 years ago and the facade of the Renaissance Palace that remains after the rest collapsed into the canyon. Visit the largest piazza where what’s left of the town population socializes.  Afterwards transfer to Orvieto. Go on a walking tour and explore the town's impressive Duomo. Then head to the incredible Orvieto underground for a guided excursion through the remains of an ancient mill, medieval ruins, and other evidence of everyday life from past civilizations. Continue on to Montefiascone on Bolsena Lake. Tour the historically significant Rocca dei Papi, perched on the highest point of the Montefiascone hill. Learn why it was chosen as a key seat of papal power during the pope's exile in Avignon in the 14th century.  Take in a breathtaking view of Bolsena Lake before getting transferred back to your accommodation.

Civita di Bagnoregio is located in Tuscia on the border between Tuscany and Lazio. It is called the dying city because the land on which it stands is slowly falling away and will inevitably disappear when the final pieces crumble into the spectacular Valle dei Calanchi below. Knowing this and knowing that nothing can be done to prevent it makes your visit all the more special, eternal and timeless. Be one of the last people to visit the village before it ceases to exist. Connected to the rest of the world by a three hundred meter bridge, Civita di Bagnoregio is a charming village which will make you feel you are visiting a world that no longer exists. Made up of old houses, narrow streets and surrounded by beautiful landscapes, walk through this magnificently unique setting. The Romanesque Arch at the entrance to Civita was built by the Etruscans 2,500 years ago and all that remains of the Renaissance Palace is the facade, the rest collapsed into the canyon. Visit the largest Piazza: the site of donkey races on the first Sunday of June and the second Sunday of September. In the evening, the piazza is the place to be, as what’s left of the town socialises there. Visit Maria’s Garden, follow the main road to the far side of town to see a lovely garden with canyon views. If the garden is open, Maria will greet you in a small piazza and urge you to see it. She shows the garden to visitors for pocket change; give her a euro or two.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Rome for a day and tour the lovely small towns of the Etruscan area north of the Eternal City. Traveling by private Mercedes minivan, your first port of call is Orvieto, built on top of a plateau of tufa stone, half-way between Rome and Florence. Boasting bags of charm, and one of Italy's most beautiful gothic cathedrals, admire the façade of this historic monument, completely decorated with mosaics. Orvieto is also known for its white wine and outstanding foods and olive oil, and a stop at a country-style restaurant will introduce you to some of these taste sensations. Continue to Civita di Bagnoregio, sitting on a plateau of tufo stone just like Orvieto. The town can only be reached by a footbridge, and the plateau is slowly deteriorating, so that the town might not be there for much longer. You can also visit a winery to sample superb Umbrian wines, exemplified by the hillside towns of Orvieto and Assisi.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Rome for the day on a 14-hour bike tour through the lovely landscapes of Lazio and Umbria. Following a pick-up from your hotel, transfer by train to the Tiber Valley for the start of your biking adventure. Experience the tranquility of the Alviano Nature Reserve, and pedal uphill to Civita di Bagnoregio. Known locally as “The Dying Town,” the once thriving cliff side village is one of Italy’s most beautiful towns from the Middle Ages. Perched on a plateau of rock that is connected to the rest of the world by a narrow bridge, cross on foot or by bike for breathtaking views. Continue biking through the lovely landscapes of Umbria, heading for Orvieto, the climax of your day. Built on a summit of volcanic tuff, the city’s defensive walls are constructed from tufa stone. Explore Orvieto's enchanting streets and go to the impressive 14th-century cathedral (Duomo), with a Gothic façade considered one of the masterpieces of the Late Middle Ages. Marvel at the large rose window and golden mosaics, before dinner in a wine cellar and your transfer back to Rome.

You will enjoy a scenic two-hour drive to Orvieto, a town perched high atop a hill. Orvieto is impressively situated above a volcanic plug, which is a volcanic landform created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcano. In Orvieto, you will have time to explore and enjoy lunch before heading to Civita di Bagnoregio, a small ancient village that clings to the precipice of the steep hill it sits on and offers incredible picturesque views. This is a tour by car with an English-speaking driver (it does not include a tour guide or walking tour). Italian laws permit only licensed tour guides to accompany guests on foot to sightsee.

Step back in time and discover the incredible Civita di Bagnoregio, known as the dying city. See past and present overlap on a unique walking tour, enhanced by virtual reality. Be led through the streets by 5 virtual guides from different eras of the town’s history. Benefit from assistance at the meeting point, then put on your headset and start exploring. Enjoy 11 stops along a route that takes you past the most important monuments, from the town’s highest point to the Poet’s Garden. Learn stories, myths, and legends from your hologram guides.