Civita di Bagnoregio

Wheelchair Accessible

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.