Civitavecchia Shore Excursion

This Civitavecchia shore tour adventures into the region of Umbria. You visit the amazing hilltop village of Civita which is only accessible by foot bridge and has only 15 permanent residents. Also included is a visit to the Umbrian town of Orvieto which is perched high above the valley floor.

Your exploration begins with a through the lovely countryside toward Orvieto. You enjoy a brief photo stop in enchanting Montefiascone. This charming, medieval hilltop town offers breathtaking views overlooking Lake Bolsena.

Your next stop is Civita di Bagnoregio, a most unique village. This charming town was built upon a hill and is completely surrounded by a canyon. In 1794 an earthquake destroyed the natural bridge that linked Civita to the bigger nearby town of Bagnoregio. Today Civita is accessible only by a 1 mile long foot bridge which sits above the canyon below. Civita resembles a ghost town with only 15 permanent inhabitants. There are no cars, pollution, lodging, only a few shops and one restaurant. You can walk the narrow streets and marvel at the existence of a place where time stopped several hundreds of years ago.

Next you head to Orvieto, a village perched on a plateau formed by the volcanic tufa stone. You can choose to enjoy a meal in one of the caves that the people of Orvieto dug into the volcanic rock underneath the city. Be sure to visit the magnificent Cathedral of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, one of the finest in Italy. Its facade is decorated with mosaics and sculpture, as well as black and white horizontal striped marble. Many art historians call this the most colorful monument in the world.

Another important site is St. Patrick's well, built on the orders of Pope Clement VII who was seeking refuge during the sacking of Rome. This 203 foot deep well boasts double spiraled staircases descending to the water below past an Etruscan tomb and various vistas from openings in the shaft.

After visiting the Cathedral, you can stroll down Orvieto's quaint narrow streets with shops selling the local wares, such as ceramics. Orvieto is also well known for its crisp, white wines of the same name, produced from grapes grown at the foot of the cliffs in eroded volcanic rock.

Mobility: NO wheelchairs