The Rock Village of Civita di Bagnoregio

In the Monti Volsini, a hilly area 20 km southwest of Orvieto and just a short detour from the A1 motorway, lies Civita di Bagnoregio, nestled in a canyon-like gorge on a steeply rising tuff rock. The houses grow seamlessly out of the rock; indeed, the entire village is intertwined with the landscape. The village can only be reached on foot via a steep staircase, and due to this excellent strategic location, it is considered the ideal example of an impregnable rock village. The origins of its settlement likely date back to the Etruscans in the 7th century BC, and its current appearance still conveys the impression of a medieval settlement.