Journey through time capsules

Founded by the Etruscans, after various dominations, it acquires its extraordinary appearance in the Middle Ages, then it is enriched during the Renaissance and finally comes down to us unchanged, as a time capsule. Civita di Bagnoregio is a precious treasure chest that preserves 2500 years of history.

A journey through time that struggles against a hostile environment, constantly threatened by the natural erosion of the tufa on which it rests, so as to have made famous this gem from Tuscia, in the province of Viterbo, on the border with Umbria and Tuscany, a stone's throw from Lake Bolsena, known as the "Dying town." Yet, not only does it live, representing an extraordinary testimony of resilience, but it has been revitalized and today it is on the list to be included among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Nestled in the center of the Valley of the Gullies, it is an enchanted village with its low houses, flowered balconies and external stairways. So dreamlike that it inspired anime's greatest cartoonist and screenwriter, Hayao Miyazaki. His visionary work Laputa - Castle in the sky starts precisely from the charm of this village, which seems forgotten by time.

In its glorious past, the town was larger, but landslides and earthquakes have crumbled palaces, towers and ancient gateways. In the period of the highest magnificence there were five, now only one is left: Porta Santa Maria also known as "della Cava", the only access to the village at the end of the incredible bridge, which has become a true symbol.

To access the center of Civita, visitors must pay a small entrance fee (5 euro) that allows the municipal administration to carry out restoration and stabilization work. A theme so important that in the splendid Palazzo degli Alemanni you can visit the interdisciplinary Museum of Geology and Landslides: geology, seismology, archaeology, to understand the special relationship between Civita and its delicate balance.