The beautiful medieval town of Civita di Bagnoregio, about 100 km north of Rome – within the province of Lazio and just along the border with neighboring Umbria – is known as la città che muore (the dying city). It’s one of the best places to visit in Europe if you enjoy historic towns.
Dying is, unfortunately, just what Civita di Bagnoregio is doing. The city, originally founded by the Etruscans, is perched on cliffs of tufo (tufa stone, similar to limestone), which is slowly but surely crumbling. Endangered residents have long since moved from Civita di Bagnoregio to the town of Bagnoregio, built during the Renaissance, just opposite the chasm from the medieval town. Residents had been leaving the medieval town all throughout the 16th century, but a devastating earthquake struck the town in the late 17th century, leaving it a virtual ghost town.
A 1 km bridge connects the “new” 16th century town with its medieval twin and tourists make the stunning (and steep) climb up the bridge to enjoy this medieval treasure. (more…)
