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Civita di Bagnoregio
About Civita di Bagnoregio
Basic Information:
- Fraction: Civita di Bagnoregio
- Region: Lazio
- Province: Viterbo
- Municipality: Bagnoregio
- Zona: Central Italy
- Coordinates: 42°37′48″N 12°5′21″E
- Patron Saint: San Bonaventura
- Saint Day: 15 July
- Web site: Official Web Site
Civita di Bagnoregio is a village in the municipality of Bagnoregio, famous for being called "The Dying City". Civita di Bagnoregio is called also as an Open Air Museum.
Curiosity
Located in a secluded, is only accessible via a pedestrian bridge in reinforced concrete built in 1965. The bridge can be crossed only on foot, but recently the town of Bagnoregio, to meet the needs of those who live or work there has issued a circular stating that at certain times residents and authorized persons can cross the bridge on the edge of cycles and motorcycles. The cause of his isolation is the gradual erosion of the hill and the surrounding valley, which has given rise to the typical forms of the ravines and that continues today, threatening to wipe out the village, for this also Civita di Bagnoregio is called "The Dying City" or more rarely "The Dying Town".
The village is currently inhabited by six people.
A little History about Civita di Bagnoregio
Civita di Bagnoregio was founded 2500 years ago by the Etruscans. It stands on one of the oldest streets in Italy connecting the Tiber (then great waterway of Central) and Lake Bolsena.
The ancient town of Civita is accessed by five doors while today there is only one door called Santa Maria della Cava, it is the only one access to the country.
The urban structure of the entire town is of Etruscan origin, consisting of thistles and decumans according to the custom Etruscan and Roman, while the entire coating is medieval and Renaissance architecture. There are numerous testimonies of the Etruscan phase of Civita, especially in the area known as old San Francesco where it was found a small Etruscan necropolis. Even the cave of San Bonaventura which it is says that San Francesco healed a little Giovanni Fidanza who later became San Bonaventura is actually an Etruscan chamber tomb.
The Etruscans made Civita di Bagnoregio (we do not know the ancient name of it) a thriving town favored by the strategic position for trade, thanks to its proximity to the most important roads of the time. There are many testimonies of the Etruscan period: of particular fascination is the "Bucaione" which is a deep tunnel that cuts through the lower part of the town and that allows access from the country, the Valley of the Badlands.
In the past they were also seen many tombs, rooms at the base of the cliff of Civita and other surrounding tufa walls which unfortunately were largely swallowed up over the centuries by countless landslides.
For the rest the Etruscans had already the problems of instability and seismicity of the area who in 280 BC passed lots of earthquakes and landslides. When the Romans came in 265 BC they were shooting the mighty works of channeling rainwater and containment of the streams initiated by the Etruscans.
Today Bagnoregio continues to be a small but prosperous town, while Civita became known as "The Dying Town". Civita di Bagnoregio has only recently been experiencing as a tourist revival.
What to see in Civita di Bagnoregio?
Inside the village there are several Medieval Houses, the Church of San Donato overlooking the main square. Take a look at the SS Wooden crucifix which houses inside the Church of San Donato.
Take a look also at the Bishop's Palace, a Mill of the XVI century, the Birthhouse of San Bonaventura and the Port of Santa Maria with two lions holding between his paws a human head, that is in a memory of a popular uprising against the inhabitants Monaldeschi family from Civita Orvieto.
In 2005 the Badlands of Civita di Bagnoregio have been proposed as a Site of Community Interest.
In 2006 the town of Civita di Bagnoregio was placed on the World Monuments Fund's List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites, due to the threats it faces from erosion and unregulated tourism.
The Museum of Geology and Landslides
The Museum of Geology and Landslides of Civita di Bagnoregio due to its unique location presents itself as a place of synthesis and exhibition of the natural qualities of the area between Lake Bolsena and the valley of the Paglia and Tiber rivers. As a center of study and interaction for those (academics, professionals or amateurs) which belong to various disciplines such as engineering, archeology, agronomy, and earth sciences: geology
applied geomorphology, hydrogeology, stratigraphic geology, volcanology, mineralogy, paleontology molluscs and vertebrates.
The Museum was inaugurated on 23 April 2012 and surely it will surprise you of what you can see there.
Opening Hours
Winter months:
March 1 - May 31 October 1 - January 6:
Friday - Sunday: 10.00 - 13.00 14.00 - 18.30
Tuesday - Thursday: only with a booking for at least 25 people.
Summer months:
June, July, August, September:
Tuesday - Sunday: 9.30 - 13.00 14.00 - 18.30
Special Openings:
December 26, January 6, Monday of Easter.
Closed:
Monday, December 24, 25, 31, January 1
From January 7 to 28 (29) February.
Address of The Museum of Geology and Landslides
MUSEO GEOLOGICO E DELLE FRANE
Palazzo Alemanni
Piazza San Donato
Civita di Bagnoregio (VT), Italy
☎ +39 328 66 57 205
How to go to Civita di Bagnoregio?
Civita di Bagnoregio is situated 130 km from the capital city of Italy so in all case flying to Roma is the most convenient way for you to rich the city. From the train station Termini in Roma you can get a train for Orvieto or Viterbo.
For more information visit the Airports of Roma web sites:
Roma Airport 1 - International Airport Leonardo Da Vinci - Fiumicino
Roma Airport 2 - International Airport Ciampino
The both have very good connection with the city of Roma where you can make some connection.
If you prefer to go to Civita di Bagnoregio you should stop in Viterbo or Orvieto. From there you can take the a bus lines COTRAL to Bagnoregio.
For more information visit the Italian Railway web site.
If you come from North via Highway A1 you should exit in Orvieto and then to get SP12 and after SP6 to Bagnoregio.
If you come from Roma via Highway A1 you could exit in Attigliano and travel via country changing several ways: SP19, SP132, SP5 (or SP131) and SP6 to Bagnoregio.
Coming from Viterbo, Bagnoregio is easy reachable via SP5 and SP6.
The only way to visit Civita di Bagnoregio is walking passing the long bridge and the Door Santa Maria della Cava.
If you go by Camper or BUS you should leave it in the parking Piazzale Battaglini at the beginning of the city.
There is a public transport: Piazza S. Agostino - Loc. Mercatello (access to the Bridge to Civita di Bagnoregio).
The way back is: Loc. Mercatello - Piazzale Battaglini.
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Map of Civita di Bagnoregio
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