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Civita di Bagnoregio: a Little Known Gem in Lazio

Civita di Bagnoregio is a beautiful, historic hilltop town in Lazio, Italy, which was dying until recent tourism has given it a breath of life.

Civita di Bagnoregio

Seeing a photo that my cousin Gianfranco took, was how I first learned of this little known gem. Civita di Bagnoregio is perched high atop what is left of a concentration of volcanic tuff in central Italy, and so unique, you’ll never forget it once you see it for the first time.

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When I was planning our route from Tuscany to Lazio, I just knew we needed to stop in Civita di Bagnoregio after visiting Orvieto.

Where is Civita di Bagnoregio?

On the map below, you can see that Civita di Bagnoregio is located a bit further south, between Florence and Rome, near Lago di Bolsena.

Map of Civita di Bagnoregio courtesy of Google
Map of Civita di Bagnoregio courtesy of Google

Before planning the trip, I did send my mother a photo of the pedestrian bridge and asked if she would be okay walking over it. 

Civita di Bagnoregio walkway

You see, she’s very afraid of heights and I didn’t want to arrive at the town’s edge and have her refuse to cross. Luckily, she said she thought she’d be okay, and she was. In fact, she was much better going over than coming back, for some reason. Truly, it’s not bad at all, and if my mother can do it, anyone can.

Sign to Civita di Bagnoregio

We arrived in the main part of the town, drove through it (I wondered if I was even supposed to be there a couple of times), but there’s a parking lot at the far end.

Bagnoregio

Here’s a clip of me driving through to give you an idea of what I mean.

 

Once we arrived and parked, Mum and I walked towards the bridge and paid a nominal fee (€5) to cross and visit la Civita di Bagnoregio.

Civita di Bagnoregio

Originally established by the Etruscans over 2500 years ago, you can be sure that the history here is enthralling. You can read about it here.

Civita di Bagnoregio

civita di bagnoregio

This fee is what is helping to bring the town back to life and restore the buildings. 

Civita di Bagnoregio

Once we entered the archway, we immediately knew this was a special place. One can sense the renewal and hope here. 

Panorama of Civita di Bagnoregio

It was so clean, and there were flowers and plants adorning walls, stairs, windowsills and balconies.

Panorama of Bagnoregio

church in Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita di Bagnoregio is a photographer and artist’s paradise. In fact, I realized when I returned home that I had a print that I’d bought over 15 years ago in Florence which I framed, and it’s from Civita di Bagnoregio! I even took a photo of the exact same spot that the artist painted without realizing it. 

Civita di Bagnoregio painting

Mum and I explored from one end of the town to the other. It was simply beautiful. I hope these photos can portray a little of what we saw, although, it’s just never the same as in person.

Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita di Bagnoregio

This is one view from the town’s edge.

view from Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita di Bagnoregio

Mum and I were only there for an afternoon, but I would love to go back and spend more time here, there are places to stay in Bagnoregio (the town we drove through to walk to la Civita di Bagnoregio).

Builidings in Civita di Bagnoregio
Booking.com

 

St. Bonaventure was born in Civita di Bagnoregio in the early 1200s and his tomb is just across the pedestrian bridge.

Civita di Bagnoregio

Bridge to Civita di Bagnoregio Christina

Grotto of Saint Bonaventure

Grotto of Saint Bonaventure

I hope that if you are in the Viterbo area that you make it a point to visit Civita di Bagnoregio. I honestly think you would enjoy it just as much as my mother and I did.

Mum and I walked back to the parking lot and headed out of town towards Bomarzo. We were going to visit the Bomarzo Monster Park which has been on my travel list for quite a while. 

Bomarzo Monster Park in Italy

 


 

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16 Comments

  1. What a fabulous spot to visit in Italy! Thanks for sharing your experiences and gorgeous photos with us. It is great that the town is coming back to life due to the fee to cross that pedestrian bridge.