Town

Civita di Bagnoregio is a pedestrian-only town perched on a hilltop overlooking picturesque valleys. The entire town is approximately the size of a football field yet boasts 4 restaurants, 7 snack bars, 3 shops, and 1 museum. Many visitors start their visit by taking in the church bells from the central piazza before exploring the numerous small streets. 

 

Unlike many other Italian hill towns, Civita is pedestrian only. All cars must park at the bottom of the bridge. Walkers (and occasionally mountain bikers and horses!) then proceed up the bridge, which is about a 10 minute walk until the town gate. Parts of the bridge are steep, but the views are worth it! The town has long been a magnet for artists and is often depicted in paintings and films.

 

  • the bridge
  • main gate
  • corner of the church with medieval houses
  • the piazza
  • medieval arch over a street
  • flowers around house entry
  • street scene
  • Civita from the valley below

Personal Reflections on Civita

House owners Carol Martin Watts, an architectural historian, and Donald J. Watts, an architect, are retired professors from Kansas State University. They have had a long association with the town, beginning in 1973, when it was the subject for Carol's Master of Architecture thesis (University of Washington). These web pages began in 1994 as the introductory chapters for a projected book (still in search of a publisher!) on the history and future of this town. Click on the links for chapters on Across the Bridge, Through the Gate, Walking the Streets and Down in the Valley.

 

 

(Revised November  2023. Text and illustrations copyright by Carol Martin Watts and Donald J. Watts, all rights reserved, contact the authors for permission to reproduce)