Civita di Bagnoregio, known as “The Dying City” by Saint Bonaventure, is one of the most interesting places to visit on a tour exploring the Maremma Tusco Laziale region. This fascinating village can be reached in just over an hour from our location and is located in the province of Viterbo in Alta Tuscia, on the border with Umbria.
Civita di Bagnoregio is part of the “Most Beautiful Villages of Italy” and is one of the most visited and appreciated destinations by tourists from all over Europe, thanks to its breathtaking views and unique history.
Civita was founded 2500 years ago by the Etruscans. It is located on one of the oldest roads in Italy, connecting the Tiber River (which was then a major navigation route in Central Italy) and Lake Bolsena. Today, only about ten people live in the city, and it can only be reached on foot through a reinforced concrete bridge built in 1965. The cause of its isolation is the progressive erosion of the hill and surrounding valley, which has given rise to typical forms of badlands that threatened to make the village disappear, hence its nickname “the dying city.”
Things to see:
Belvedere
Once you cross the bridge on foot, you can go to one of the most spectacular points in Civita di Bagnoregio: the Belvedere. It is a small square overlooking the Valley of Badlands from which you have a complete view of the entire area. A romantic and rugged place where your gaze gets lost in the purity of nature that dominates undisturbed.
Grotta di San Bonaventura
A symbol of this ancient village is the Grotto of San Bonaventura. According to legends, it is here that a miraculous healing occurred for a child who would later become known as San Bonaventura, at the hands of San Francesco who stayed in this cave for a few days.
Piazza and Church of San Donato in Civita di Bagnoregio
The center of the village of Civita di Bagnoregio is Piazza San Donato, where the church of the same name stands. The peculiarity of this square is the absence of central pavement; instead, a mixture of red soil and gravel has been used, giving it a truly medieval appearance. Dominating the village is the Church of San Donato, the former cathedral of Bagnoregio, probably built on the remains of a pagan temple. The church, with its medieval layout, has a Renaissance facade resulting from transformations over time. Next to it is the 12th-century bell tower with incorporated Etruscan sarcophagi made of basalt stone at its base.
