Orvieto & Civita di Bagnoregio Shore Excursion: Two Hill Towns

Walk across a footbridge to a village of twenty people clinging to a crumbling hilltop.

This nine-hour shore excursion from Civitavecchia pairs Orvieto, a cathedral town built atop a volcanic plug, with Civita di Bagnoregio, an isolated ancient village reachable only by footbridge. A private driver (not a licensed guide) handles the two-hour drive each way, leaving you free to explore Orvieto's Cathedral and St. Patrick's Well, enjoy lunch in town, and cross into Civita's traffic-free streets. You choose the vehicle size at checkout: one to three passengers, four to six, or seven to eight.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Orvieto Cathedral30m
2. St. Patrick’s Well30m
3. Civita di Bagnoregio2h

Explore Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio

• Drive two hours to Orvieto
• Visit Orvieto Cathedral
• Descend St. Patrick’s Well
• Explore Orvieto streets and shops
• Enjoy lunch in Orvieto
• Travel to Civita di Bagnoregio
• Walk the footbridge to Civita
• Explore Civita di Bagnoregio village

The experience

You have a port day and want to get away from Rome's crowds without renting a car or navigating trains. The drive north takes two hours through Lazio and Umbria countryside, and your English-speaking driver handles the route while you settle in. The vehicle is air-conditioned and stocked with bottled water. Fuel and parking are covered.

Orvieto sits so high on its volcanic foundation that the medieval town had a water problem. Pope Clement VII ordered St. Patrick's Well dug in case of siege: a 248-step spiral descent with a helix design that lets visitors pass each other without meeting on the way down and up. The Cathedral dominates the skyline: construction began in 1290 and took nearly 300 years, shifting from Romanesque to Gothic as the design evolved. Inside the Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio, frescoes begun by Fra Angelico and finished by Signorelli depict the Apocalypse, Last Judgment and Resurrection of the Flesh. You'll have time to walk the ceramic shops, taste local wine and eat lunch at a family-run restaurant before heading to Civita.

Civita di Bagnoregio was founded by the Etruscans on tufa, a volcanic rock, and now sits as an island in an uninhabitable landscape of eroded valleys. Only about twenty people live there year-round. You reach it by footbridge suspended in the air: the saddle that once connected it to the larger town of Bagnoregio eroded away centuries ago. The architecture spans thousands of years, and the residents maintain the village with care despite its slow decline. The traffic-free streets and shops are yours to wander before the drive back to the port.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a deluxe air-conditioned Mercedes.
• English-speaking professional driver.
• bottled water.
• fuel and parking fees.
• nine hours total from port pickup to return.

Options for this experience

3 options

Option for 7 to 8 passengersUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · No fixed timeDeluxe Mercedes-Benz vehicle; pickup is included

Option for 4 to 6 passengersUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · No fixed timeDeluxe Mercedes-Benz vehicle; pickup is included

Option for 1 to 3 passengersUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · No fixed timeDeluxe Mercedes-Benz vehicle; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Stefano Rome Day Tours

Is this one for you?Pick the smaller vehicle if you're traveling solo or as a couple and want to set your own pace. The larger option works better for small families or groups sharing the cost: your driver navigates while you explore freely without a guide's commentary.

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

How long is the drive from Civitavecchia to Orvieto?

The drive takes two hours each way. Your driver handles the route while you relax in an air-conditioned Mercedes, with bottled water provided.

What is St. Patrick's Well and can I go inside it?

St. Patrick's Well is a 248-step spiral staircase dug into Orvieto's volcanic rock on order of Pope Clement VII to secure water during a military siege. You can walk down to the bottom and back up. Entry costs €5 per person, paid on site.

How do I get to Civita di Bagnoregio?

Civita is reached by a footbridge suspended above the eroded valleys that now surround it. The footbridge is the only way in or out: no cars can enter the village.

What should I see inside Orvieto Cathedral?

The Cathedral's most significant works are in the Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio: frescoes begun by Fra Angelico and completed by Signorelli depicting Christian events from the Preaching of the Antichrist through the Resurrection of the Flesh. The cathedral's façade itself blends Romanesque and Gothic elements accumulated over its 300-year construction.

Is lunch included, and where do I eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but you have free time in Orvieto to eat at a typical family-owned restaurant. Your driver can suggest options.

How many people live in Civita di Bagnoregio now?

About twenty people live there year-round. The village was founded by the Etruscans and is slowly declining, but residents maintain it carefully despite its isolation.