Civita di Bagnoregio from Rome: the hilltop village that is crumbling away

Updated on October 5, 2026

Civita di Bagnoregio is a medieval village set on a butte of tuff and clay that erosion has been eating away for centuries, hence its nickname "the dying city". It can only be reached on foot, over a long pedestrian concrete bridge built in 1965 across the valley of the badlands (the calanchi). The village is tiny: an hour is enough to walk around it, but the approach and the view are worth the trip. Entry costs €5 per person, online or at the ticket office, from 8 am to 8 pm; before 8 am and after 8 pm it is free. Children up to 6, people with a 100% disability, residents and guests of local accommodation go in free (prices checked in October 2026).

Highlights

The village in the badlands valley

The best overview is from the viewpoint in the modern village of Bagnoregio, before you go down to the bridge: the butte and its clay ravines show how fragile it is.

The bridge and the Santa Maria gate

The bridge leads to the medieval gate cut into the wall, which opens onto the main square. The climb takes about ten minutes, on a gentle slope.

The lanes and the tuff houses

A handful of people live here all year round; the lanes lead to the square of the San Donato church and to terraces over the badlands.

Piazza San Donato

The small church square, the heart of the village, with its cafés and craft shops.

The viewpoints

Several terraces look out over the ravines and the valley.

Practical info

Tips

Price checked in October 2026: €5 per person, best bought online (a QR code shown straight at the bridge, no queue at the ticket office); tickets on the spot are sold at the Mercatello office near the bridge, or at Piazzale Battaglini on busy days. On very busy days (weekends, public holidays) access may be limited: arrive early. The bridge and the village are on a slope: wear good shoes. Bulky luggage and pushchairs are best avoided, and the village is difficult for people with reduced mobility. To combine with another stop, see Orvieto and our guide to day trips from Rome.

How to get there

Piazzale Battaglini, Bagnoregio (VT). There is no direct service from Rome. By public transport: train from Roma Termini or Tiburtina to Orvieto (about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30), then a Cotral bus from the Orvieto Scalo bus station to Bagnoregio, about 20 minutes; check times on the Cotral website, as services drop at weekends and on public holidays. From Bagnoregio, allow 15 minutes on foot to the bridge, or take a shuttle to the viewpoint. By car: about 1 h 45 from Rome, with parking at Piazzale Battaglini. More details in our guide to getting around Rome.