AMO ITALY Travel Guide

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Beautiful and sad town: Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita di Bagnoregio in Italy The view from the observatory in front of Civita di Bagnoregio. It's possible to enjoy various beautiful scenes in each season. Plenty of rape flowers in spring, fresh green in summer, red and yellow leaves in autumn and snow in winter.

Civita di Bagnoregio in Italy
The town is surrounded by walls. Civita itself is a fortress. Yellow-brown brick houses make you feel a scene of Middle Ages.

Civita di Bagnoregio in Italy
Rich olive groves surrounds this town. You can enjoy beautiful views of the idyllic central Italy.

Civita di Bagnoregio in Italy
The area from Orvieto to Civita is famous for cheese of the sheep milk. Please enjoy cheese aged in grape pomace and fresh ricotta just prepared on the same day.

A "dying town, Civita" with less than 20 residents

Near Orvieto, on the border line of the Umbria and Lazio regions, there is a small but famous town Civita di Bagnoregio. This town was built by the Etruscans over 2500 years ago from now. Everyone will probably gasp in its unusual appearance. A lot of people imagine a castle in the sky. Erosion by wind and rain made an "island on the land", and the town can be reached only through the long and thin bridge. This town is known as "a dying town" or "a disappearing town". Even on the road sign at the entrance of the town, it's written clearly in Italian; "il paese che muore (town which goes to die)".

The entrance to the town is only a bridge of 300 m

Erosion by wind and rain is still going on and it's said that the definitive death would be a matter of time. To enter the town you need to walk over the bridge of 300 meters. Due to inconvenience, only several families continue to live inside the town. Just 40 years ago, they were carrying the food and household items by a donkey on this bridge. Now a motorcycle is used instead of a donkey. The town conserves many medieval buildings. You can see the main square of the town with St. Donato Church, Bishop Palace, site of the 1500's flour mill and the gate of Santa Maria with two lions.

Civita's rustic gourmet; freshly baked Bruschetta and sausages

Civita is famous for its "olive oil". In recent years among the various famous Italian olive oil types, it's said that the most delicious Italian olive oil is made in Umbria region. Also around Civita, the land is suitable for cultivation of olives that produce little but precious olive oil. There are two restaurants in town and both of them feature grilled bruschetta, salsiccia (sausage) and bistecca (steak) in the fireplace. Please taste such a specialty with plenty of olive oil. The rich aroma of local extra virgin olive oil spreads into your mouth. You can enjoy a luxurious dish.

Civita is nestled in the beautiful green pasture plateau

To go to Civita di Bagnoregio, the most convenient departure is Orvieto. The only bus to Civita runs from Orvieto every one-two hours. It is also fun to go by a rental car. The road runs in the idyllic hill and mountains where sheeps and cattles are grazed. The endless landscape of central Italy with beautiful green and blue sky makes you feel a romantic journey. Moreover, this area is famous for cheese. On the road there are many sign boards of "farmers cheese" by local family-run producers. To taste fresh cheese is one of the best points of travel in Italy.