Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio Tour: The Dying City

Walk a village that's falling into the canyon, then descend into Orvieto's hidden layers

A full-day tour from Civitavecchia port visiting Civita di Bagnoregio and Orvieto, with shared transfer, English-speaking driver, entry to both sites, and lunch at a local trattoria. Civita is slowly eroding into the Valle dei Calanchi below and can only be reached by a 300-meter pedestrian bridge. Orvieto sits atop a tuff cliff and holds a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, medieval streets, and an underground network of ancient tunnels and ruins. The tour runs eight hours and includes pickup and drop-off at the port.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Civita di Bagnoregio and Orvieto

• Meet at Largo della Pace snc
• Transfer to Civita di Bagnoregio
• Walk across pedestrian bridge
• Explore Civita di Bagnoregio alleys and piazza
• Visit Maria’s Garden
• Transfer to Orvieto
• Walking tour: Saint Patrick's Well and Albornoz Fortress
• Stroll city center and see Orvieto Cathedral
• Lunch at typical Italian trattoria
• Visit Saint Andrea’s Church
• Climb Torre del Moro for city views
• Tour Orvieto’s underground ruins
• Transfer back to Civitavecchia

The experience

You're picked up at Largo della Pace in Civitavecchia, where the port shuttle drops cruise passengers, and driven 50 minutes to Civita di Bagnoregio. The village sits on a clay plateau that is eroding into the surrounding canyon. The land beneath it is literally disappearing, grain by grain, which is why locals call it "the dying city." A three-hundred-meter pedestrian bridge is the only way in. Once across, you walk through narrow streets lined with old stone houses, past the Romanesque Arch the Etruscans built 2,500 years ago, and into the main piazza where donkey races still happen twice a year. Maria's Garden, set at the far edge of town, gives you views straight down into the Valle dei Calanchi. The knowledge that this place will eventually vanish into that canyon makes the visit feel urgent and strange.

After Civita, you transfer to Orvieto, perched on its own tuff cliff above the surrounding landscape. A walking tour takes you through the medieval center, past the Torre del Moro (the Moro's Tower), where you climb to a terrace for views across the countryside. You see Saint Patrick's Well, the Temple of the Overview, and the Albornoz Fortress. Lunch happens at a typical Italian trattoria in the city center, where you eat among locals. The afternoon continues with the Duomo (a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral that dominates the piazza), and Saint Andrea's Church. Then comes the underground: a guided walk through Orvieto's subterranean network, where you see the remains of an ancient mill, medieval passages, and evidence of daily life from civilizations that lived here centuries ago. The transfer back to Civitavecchia closes the day.

The driver speaks English and holds all entry tickets for both sites, so you don't stop to buy them. The air-conditioned vehicle waits between stops. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

What’s included

• Round-trip shared transfer from Civitavecchia port in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking driver.
• entry to Civita di Bagnoregio.
• entry to Orvieto's Duomo.
• guided walk through Orvieto's underground network.
• lunch at a local trattoria in Orvieto.
• pickup and drop-off at the port shuttle meeting point.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:45

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by MyloveItaly Travel&Experiences

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving by cruise ship at Civitavecchia and have a full day to explore: the shared transfer and fixed itinerary mean you don't arrange transport or timing yourself, and the driver handles all entry tickets. It suits groups of two or more who want to see both sites without splitting up or navigating between them alone.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is Civita di Bagnoregio and why is it called the dying city?

Civita di Bagnoregio is a village in Tuscia on the border between Tuscany and Lazio, built on a clay plateau that is slowly eroding into the Valle dei Calanchi canyon below. The land crumbles gradually and irreversibly, which is why locals call it the dying city. It will eventually disappear entirely into the canyon beneath it. A 300-meter pedestrian bridge is the only way to reach it.

What do I see and do in Orvieto during this tour?

Orvieto is a medieval city perched atop a tuff cliff. You walk through the historic center, visit the Duomo (a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral), climb the Torre del Moro for countryside views, see Saint Patrick's Well and the Albornoz Fortress, and explore Saint Andrea's Church. After lunch at a local trattoria, you descend into Orvieto's underground network to see ancient mills, medieval ruins and passages, and traces of past civilizations.

Does the tour include lunch, and where do I eat?

Yes, lunch is included at a typical Italian trattoria in Orvieto's city center, where you eat among locals during a break in the walking tour.

How long is the drive from Civitavecchia to Civita di Bagnoregio?

The drive from Civitavecchia port to Civita di Bagnoregio takes 50 minutes. After visiting the dying city, you transfer to Orvieto for the afternoon portion of the tour.

Are entry fees included in the tour price?

Yes, entry fees to both Civita di Bagnoregio and Orvieto's Duomo are included. The driver holds the tickets, so you don't need to buy them separately.