Civita Travel Guide

Residences, many of them belonging to rich Italians that use them as weekend or vacation getaways, form the majority of buildings in Civita. They provide a glimpse of architecture in the Middle Ages and is closely tied to agriculture. Many dwellings boast exterior stone stairways that lead to a second-level entry and the main living areas of the house. Ground level rooms were usually reserved for stable animals. Subterranean rooms were used as storage space or wine cellars.

Civita is a product of the environment from whence it grew and into which it will eventually disappear. Like many medieval hill top towns, Civita used the natural cliff faces to form its city walls. From the land, city fathers borrowed basaltina - a hard stone from flowing lava, clay and a natural cement known as pozzolana as building materials for the pre-sixteenth century buildings that still exist today.

Following the main road from the western gate deposits one at what would have been the eastern gate of Civita. From this vantage point one has wonderful views over a rugged landscape created a million years ago when air-borne volcanic particles settled on a layer of clay. Since then, the forces of wind and water has slowly carved the surrounds into the imposing landscape we see today.

There are only two ways to reach Civita - a steep footpath from fields in the valley and the modern concrete footbridge built in 1965. The 274m bridge has become the lifeline for residents in the town. The local government provides a tractor service for the conveyance of heavier products or larger materials, and these can be seen industriously chugging towards the town gate.

Walking across the bridge provides a tantalizing view of the geographic forces at work in the creation of this wonderful landscape.

'Il paese che muore', the dying town, is nestled precariously upon a layer of solidified lava formed a million years ago. Throughout the ages, erosion of clay and sand undermined the narrow hills of tufa rock between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Tiber Valley, resulting in the eventual collapse of the land bridge between Civita and Bagnoregio.

When the Etruscans established the town on the narrow ridge about 2500 years ago, the hill top location would have been easily defended against future enemies. Today, a 274m pedestrian walkway spans the geographical and historical gap and introduces visitors to pre-sixteenth century Italy.

While Civita inexorably slides into oblivion, menus scrawled on chalk boards, flowers blossoming on window sills and cats mewling around milk saucers is a testament to the vitality of life!