Civita di Bagnoregio faces disappearance due to erosion

Civita di Bagnoregio, an ancient Italian settlement located in the Lazio region approximately 120 kilometers north of Rome, faces an existential threat due to severe geological instability. Founded by the Etruscans over 2,500 years ago, the town is situated on a plateau of volcanic tuff, which rests upon much softer layers of clay and sand.

Continuous erosion, landslides, and seismic activity are gradually consuming the town's foundation. This process has caused parts of the cliffs, including houses, towers, and original city gates, to collapse into the surrounding Calanchi Valley over the centuries. The town has earned the nickname “la città che muore” (the dying city) because of this ongoing decay.

Today, the settlement is highly isolated, connected to the outside world only by a single 300-meter reinforced concrete pedestrian bridge completed in 1965. The population has dwindled significantly, with only about 15 residents remaining. Despite its vulnerability, the site remains a significant cultural landmark and is recognized as one of the 100 most endangered areas of cultural heritage in the world.