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Civita near Orvieto ?

Has anyone traveled to Civita, RS 'favorite' and 'ultimate' central hill town? We have only one night to stay in this area.

Posted by
32357 posts

Kathy, I quite enjoyed my visit to Civita di Bagnoregio. As the previous post indicated, it IS very small and can be explored in about 20 minutes. However, the Church is very interesting and there's lots of history there that dates back to Etruscan times.

I have to disagree with the previous post. After parking or disembarking from the shuttle from Bagnoregio, visitors DO have to cross a concrete foot bridge but I didn't find it "long" at all. It was quite a pleasant walk, although there's a slight climb when you reach the Civita end. No vehicle traffic is possible, but you might encounter small motorcycles on the bridge.

I had a wonderful lunch in Antico Forno restaurant, and a very interesting visit with the owner, Franco. There are lots of small restaurants in the village where one can obtain Bruschetta or whatever.

It's unfortunate that you won't have more time, as both Orvieto and Civita are worth a visit IMHO.

Happy travels!

Posted by
3643 posts

First off, you should know that I am a bit of a heretic when it comes to RS's raves; so keep that in mind. e.g., I'm not keen on the Cinque Terre. Also, a lot depends on what interests you, your age, etc. You need to realize that the only access to Civita is on foot, via a VERY long bridge. It's on a mesa that is gradually being eroded away. We did it on a day trip; I think I would have passed if we had had to deal with luggage. Once there, there isn't all that much to do. It's really tiny. With only one day, why not spend it in Orvieto, where there is a magnificent cathedral, a museum or two, good restaurants, and much more of a town to wander through?

Posted by
27 posts

I'm noticing that busses don't seem to run on Sunday in the hill towns? Is it possible to rent a car in Orvieto?

Posted by
32357 posts

Kathy, there should be car rentals available in Orvieto, as it's fairly large city. However, I've never used any in that area, so can't say for sure.

One other option might be to use Giuliotaxi listed in Rick's book. The price listed was €35 for a ride to Orvieto (I'm assuming the same for the return fare?).

Cheers!

Posted by
204 posts

Rosalyn is abslutely right. In addition, the view of Civita from the other side of the gap in Bagnorigio is much more photogenic and quite enough. What is a 'short' walk or a 'little climb' depends very, VERY much on one's age. I predict that in another 20 or 30 years the distances in Rick's books will become much longer.

Posted by
27 posts

Thank you all. I just found the reference to the day guide/driver in his book. Sounds easier and probably less money in the long run.

Posted by
152 posts

We visted Civita this May, and highly recommend staying the night at the B & B. It was a major highlight in our 3 week tour ot Italy. There is easy car rental access in Orvieto and also regular bus service. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For us, 20 minutes was barely enough time to sit on the stone wall and look at the remarkable view. In the evening, when the day trippers leave, you begin to feel like a resident. The walk is awesome, and for us inspiring. We're 50 with a few mobility issues, but taking it easy didn't find it difficult.