Civita di Bagnoregio: The Dying Town

Civita is a suburb of the comune of Bagnoregio, in the Province of Viterbo. The area this town is in, is on the border between Tuscany and Lazio, la Tuscia.

Civita di Bagnoregio.
Note. Intorre, M., December 28, 2021

Civita di Bagnoregio is close to Lake Bolsena, more precisely in the valley of the badlands (Valle dei Calanchi). It is on the top of a tuff hill that is slowly crumbling (or “dying”) as a result of the fast erosion of the rocks.

The history

The town was founded by the Etruscans more than 2500 years ago and it was given the name Bagnorea. 

It originally had five gates of access; nowadays it only has one: Porta Santa Maria. The city was flourishing because it was close to the most important routes of the times. 

On June 10th, 1695, because of an earthquake, Civita di Bagnoregio separated from the main land and started to become an island. People who lived there had to move.

Because of its isolation, the city doesn’t show many modern elements: the church, the restaurants, the houses, the bed-and-breakfasts and, in general, all the buildings maintain their original features.

A corner of Civita di Bagnoregio. Note. Intorre, M., December 28, 2021.

Nowadays

A pedestrian bridge made of concrete is the only way people have to access the town; it starts from Bagnoregio. Cars are not allowed: the only way tourists and residents have to reach it is by foot, bike, motorcycle or golf cart (there is one, shared among those who live there). 

Recently some celebrities, including Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele and Harry Styles of One Direction, have purchased houses there. Hayao Miyazaki has found inspiration for his film “Castle in the Sky” from this town.

As a result of the tourism increase, the mayor has decided to charge a small fee for entry; the comune is using the money to preserve the remaining buildings and to hold back the tides of erosion. 

Civita di Bagnoregio currently has a little bit more than ten residents and many cats.

Resources:

Civita di Bagnoregio (n.d.). Civita di Bagnoregio. “The Dying City”, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, in the Tuscia Laziale. Retrieved January 24, 2022 from https://www.civita-di-bagnoregio.info/en/

Port Mobility Civitavecchia (n.d.). Civita di Bagnoregio: how to get there and what to see. Retrieved January 24, 2022 from https://civitavecchia.portmobility.it/en/civita-di-bagnoregio