Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio, Italy

Civita di Bagnoregio in Italy is a stunning example of a medieval city left relatively untouched by modernity. It is located 145 km (90 mi) north of Rome on the boarder of Lazio and Umbria about 20km (12 mi) south of Orvieto .

Known as ‘Il paese che muore’ - the dying town – Civita di Bagnoregio sits atop a rocky outcrop that stands between two valleys. The erosion caused over the centuries changed this once thriving settlement into an isolated citadel and Civita di Bagnoregio now only has a handful of residents. It is accessible only by a remarkable foot-bridge, leaving the town closed to all motorized traffic.

Believed to have been founded around 500BC, Civita di Bagnoregio was originally an Etruscan settlement and sat along an important trade route that was once the main Etruscan road leading to the Tiber Valley and Rome. Later falling under Roman rule, the area was conquered by the Lombards after the fall of the Western Empire. In fact, the city was once known as Balneum Regis – meaning ‘the bath of the king’, as the Lombard King Desiderious had his wounds treated by the hot springs in the area.

Passing later to the Franks and then becoming part of the Papal states, Civita di Bagnoregio is also known for being the birthplace of Saint Bonaventure (475-525) who is considered the father of western religious thought, though the location of his boyhood house has long since fallen off the edge of the cliff.

An earthquake in 1695 started the decline of Civita di Bagnoregio as many inhabitants began to leave. After further earthquakes and more significant damage occurred the bishop and the municipal government were forced to move to Bagnoregio. In the following decades and centuries the seismic activity, landslides and erosion saw the Civita di Bagnoregio virtually abandoned as more and more of the city was destroyed.

In the 19th century, Civita's location was turning into an island and the pace of the erosion quickened as a layer of clay located below the stone was reached in the area where today's bridge is located. Bagnoregio continues as a small but prosperous town, while Civita became known as il paese che muore

Today Civita di Bagnoregio’s unique history, location and architecture has seen it become a tourist attraction and efforts have been made to try to preserve this historic location. However, Civita di Bagnoregio remains on the list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites.

Visitors to Civita di Bagnoregio can see a number of interesting sites as well as the exceptional architecture on display. The fascinating ‘Eutruscan Corridor’ is a Eutruscan tunnel that completely crosses the town. Also worth a visit is the Cave Of Saint Bonaventure, an ancient olive-press and Saint Donato's Church.

What to do in Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Ovieto is known for many things; its wine, its well and its Duomo.  Located in southwestern Umbria, Italy, Orvieto is situated on a flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff. The site of the city is among the most dramatic in Europe.  Rising above plains the almost-vertical faces of tuff cliffs are completed by defensive walls built of the same stone overlook vineyards below, which produce a fine dry white wine classified as Orvieto Classico. 

The ancient city has been populated since Etruscan times and was a major centre of Etruscan civilization; the Archaeological Museum (Museo Claudio Faina e Museo Civico) houses some of the Etruscan artifacts that have been recovered in the immediate neighbourhood

Orvieto was annexed by Rome in the third century BC. After the collapse of the Roman Empire its defensible site gained new importance to where its population numbered about 30,000 at the end of the 13th century, and be became one of the major cultural attractions of its time when Thomas Aquinas taught at the Studium, a small university, now part of the University of Perugia.

The vast well of Orvieto was commissioned in 1527 to provide the town with a water supply in case of a siege.  It was designed with a double helix staircase and drops over 62m, 203 feet and took over 10 years to complete.  The double helix design allows one to descend by one route and another to ascend up another, at the same time without meeting. In addition to the well, Orvieto has an extensive labyrinth of caves and tunnels. Dug deep into the volcanic rock, these hidden and secret tunnels have yielded many historical and archeological finds and are open to view through guided tours.

The jewel of Orvieto is its Duomo.  The Duomo of Orvieto, was begun in 1290 and took over 300 years to complete and is considered one of the greatest Romanesque-Gothic churches in all of Italy.

On November 15, 1290, Pope Nicholas IV laid the cornerstone for the present building and dedicated it to the Assumption of the Virgin, a feast for which the city has had a long history of special devotion. The design has often been attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, but the prevailing modern opinion is that its master mason was an obscure monk named Fra' Bevignate from Perugia.

The Gothic façade of the Orvieto Cathedral is one of the great masterpieces of the Late Middle Ages. The three-gable design is attributed to Maitani,

The most exciting and eye-catching part is its golden frontage, which is decorated by large bas-reliefs and statues with the symbols of the Evangelists (Angel, Ox, Lion, Eagle) created by Maitani and stand on the cornice above the sculptured panels on the piers. In 1352 Matteo di Ugolino da Bologna added the bronze Lamb of God above the central gable and the bronze statue of Saint Michael on top of the gable of the left entrance.

The bas-reliefs on the piers, also by Maitani, depict biblical stories from the Old and New Testament. They are considered among the most famous of all 14th century sculpture. Above this decorations are glittering mosaics created between 1350 and 1390 after designs by artist Cesare Nebbia and represent major scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.

The spandrels around the rose window are decorated with mosaics representing the four Doctors of the Church. The frame of the rose window holds 52 carved heads, while the center of the rose window holds a carved head of the Christ.

The newest part of the decorations are the central three bronze doors which give access to the entrance of the cathedral. These were finished in 1970 by the Sicilian sculptor Emilio Greco and depict mercies from the life of Christ and are surmounted by a sculpture of the Madonna and Child created by Andrea Pisano in 1347.

The cathedral's side walls, in contrast to the brilliant façade, are more simply furnished with alternating layers of local white travertine and blue-grey basalt stone but as still hold a simple elegance of their own.