It’s like taking a step back in time.
It was our third trip to Italy, and we had a mission to find the small Tuscan hilltop town, Civita di Bagnoregio, Itlay. We had tried before, but the directions and maps we had at the time were not much help. Well, the third time is a charm as we found it, and I’m glad we didn’t give up. You follow a road that winds around and behind some buildings leading to the bridge.
When you finally see this city that sits atop a pinnacle in a canyon, connected to the rest of the world by a 900 foot-long footbridge, you’ll be glad you took the time to find this fabulous city. The original bridge was destroyed by an earthquake in 1695. Can you imagine taking a donkey and going for supplies and water?
Crossing the bridge
We parked under the footbridge, and we were in complete awe at the view up to the city’s entrance. Etruscans carve the entrance more than 2,500 years ago. (Note: You pay a small fee to cross the bridge). We started our climb of the footbridge. It’s not for those who cannot walk very much or that aren’t somewhat fit. The closer you get to the entrance, the steeper it gets. Finally, we arrived at the gate and arch that leads you to a city. They are the same as they were centuries ago.
The best thing to do is to sit in the piazza and take in the surroundings, watch the local people, and strike up a conversation if you can. It’s an experience that you will not soon forget. The Church that is on the piazza is amazing, and I will post pictures of it at another time. We spent a lot of time reading about the Church and its history.
A quiet, peaceful hilltop town
Several cobblestone streets lead around the town but remember it’s all private property, so be respectful of that and the peacefulness of this place. We passed a restaurant with a fire burning in the brick oven, and the smell was typical of some of the other small towns we visited. We were there at a time that we had just eaten, or we would have loved to sit and enjoy a meal. There are some shops and restaurants and a place to stay if you want peace and quiet.
Walking to the far end of the city, there is a path that leads you down to caves cut in the side of the hill with Civita towering above. The caves were used to keep the donkeys and wine cellars. And a small chapel that at one time was a tomb and then used as a jail.
We strolled back through the city, took our time as we didn’t want to leave. We stopped in a small shop and had an espresso before the long walk back to the car. As we left through the arch, we were speechless. We were glad we made an effort to find this small beautiful hilltop town.
Take your time and enjoy this amazing piece of history. Then post your stories, tips, and photos of this amazing place.
Other great places to visit in Italy.
