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Civita di Bagnoregio

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Information

Municipal of Bagnoregio
Tel. 0761-780815 0761-760206
Fax 0761-780837
Internet: www.comune.bagnoregio.vt.it
E-mail: info@comune.bagnoregio.vt.it

The small medieval borough of Civita in Bagnoregio (443 meters below sea level) rises from above a tuffaceous spur and can be reached only be an impressive bridge. From the town one can admire splendid views of the valley below where the cliff, slowing eroding due to atmospheric agents, takes on a typical form of the Calanchi (basins lined by crests and pinnacles).

History

The origins of the town are archaic; the first findings that proved traces of human life in the territory date back to the Neolithic (6000-3000 B.C.), but archaeological testimony; the remains of an antique necropolis, go back to the Etruscan époque; at that time the town was found in a strategic position for commerce and easily defended, and furthermore, to react to the problem of erosion of the tufa, the Etruscans attempted to canalize rain water and water from the two torrents found in the valley.

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In the 3rd century A.D. the territory passes under the Roman domain leaving material testimony of numerous funerary items, sarcophagus', and various columbary tombs.
After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. the first to settle in the area were the Goths who created both a military and economic benchmark; the Byzantines followed up until Civita didn't take part in the conquest of the Lombards with Agilulfo in command, who in 605 controlled a large part of the territory; Tuscia Lombard.
It was the king Carlo Magno who concluded the Lombard domination by donating the territory to the Pontiff in 774 A.D.
In the 12th century the town constituted a free municipal but the power held over the town by the Monaldeschi family of Orvieto transformed itself into a lordship that ruled Civita up until the revolt of the population in 1457, during which the Castle of Cervera of the Monaldeschi was destroyed.

In the 16th and 17th centuries the power of the church on the land was consolidated with the so-called "government of the Cardinals", which was confused with that of the Papal State. In 1695, a devastating earthquake shook the borough; many buildings and roads collapsed leaving many dead and injured. Other tremors followed which accelerated the progressive erosion of the tufa cliff making Civita di Bagnoregio unreachable, leaving the majority of its citizens no choice but to transfer to the neighboring Bagnoregio.

Main Monuments

Porta Santa Maria
Just to the other side of the bridge, that leads to the borough, we encounter the historic entrance; Porta Santa Maria, the only remaining of the five original doors.
Its construction, dug out of tufa, dates back to the Etruscan period but its external finish is from the medieval époque and presents sculptural elements from later periods, as well, like that of two lions with two human heads in their claws; symbol of the victory of Civita in the revolt of 1457 against the Monaldeschi family of Orvieto, and the Bald Eagle that dominates the arch of the door; symbol of Cardinal Reginald Polo (1547-1558).

Church of San Donato
Situated in the point where Cardo crosses Decumano in the antique Roman urban plan, in an area where a pagan temple once stood, the church saw its first constructive stage in the 7th century, but its present aspect, in Roman style with a basilica and three naves, dates back to the 12th century; it has undergone numerous re-facings among which include the resetting of the church in Renaissance style done in 1511 by the architect Cola di Matteuccio of Caprarola, when the presbytery was covered with crossed vaults and the three portals were added to the façade.
The earthquake of 1695 did a lot of damage to the church which lost the title of Cathedral in 1699 in favor of the present Duomo of San Nicola in Bagnoregio. Nonetheless, thanks to the intervention of Pope Innocence XII, San Donato was quickly renovated and consecrated again in 1724.
The church holds precious historic and religious mementos like the relic of Santa Vittoria, martyred under Emperor Decio in 251, and the body of Saint Ildebrando, bishop of the city in the 11th century, both found near the altars of the lateral naves.
The main altar presents an antique fresco fro the 15th century done by the school of Antoniazzo Romano showing the La Vergine in trono col Bambino, (Virgin Mary on the throne with baby Jesus), also referred to as Holy Mary Liberatrice, by the devoted when after a violent earthquake in 1695, the plaster that hid the fresco fell off the wall bringing it to light.
In the niche of the altar in the right nave another masterpiece is found; a wooden polychrome cross from the 1400's done in Donatello style - perhaps done by one of his pupils- intense piece for its strong emotional expression, it is adored and carried in the procession of Good Friday.
In the tympanum we find the terracotta statue of San Donato, bishop of Arezzo who lived and was martyred in the 4th century.
Native House of San Bonaventure
San Bonaventure was born in Civita (1217-1274), but unfortunately, in the house where this important figure was born, little remains; some stones, transferred to the new convent of San Francesco, contributing to the building of a small temple which can be visited even today.

Grotto of San Bonaventure
Near the borough Civita di Bagnoregio, this grotto, excavated from the tufa is what remains of the old Franciscan convent where, according to legend, the young Giovanni Fidanza (Saint Bonaventure) was healed of a grave illness by the hand of San Francesco.
The grotto, according to the studies, was a tomb dating back to the Etruscan period, successively transformed into a chapel for prayer.
We don't know much about the childhood of the saint but at a young age he began to study in order to enter the Franciscan order, going to the seminary of Sorbona in Paris where he met Tommaso of Aquino; later he became a teacher at the university of Paris and in 1257, he became the Minister General of the Franciscan order.
Philosopher and writer, his word became that of San Francesco, preaching a doctrine based on love for all creatures. He was canonized on April 14th 1482 by Pope Sisto IV; in 1643 Bagnoregio proclaimed him the patron saint of the city along with Saint Ilderbrando.

Touristic Activities
Because of the abandoned state of the town of Civita of Bagnoregio, it is called "the city that died", but in reality tourism lives.
One can find artisan boutiques specializing in marble (in particular basaltic tephrite rock) ceramic and iron. In the taverns one can taste typical local products that include; wine, extra virgin olive oil, biological cereal, and selected Chianina beef.
The promoting of the area is carried out during the year through the organization of various cultural events.

Festivals

Good Friday Procession
Good Friday is celebrated with a procession and a re-enactment of the historical and religious Passion of Christ in costume. The main focus of this procession is the carrying of the Hoy Cross, an event which dates back to 1400.

Palio della Tonna (Tonna Horserace)
The roads of Civita host a race with jockeys on jack-asses celebrated on the first Sunday of June and September.
A Live Nativity Setting takes place in the medieval streets of Civita on the 26th of December and the 1st and 6th of January when the events leading up to the birth of Jesus are portrayed.

How to Reach Us
Take the State highway SS 2 Cssia up to Mintefiascone, then takek the SS Umbro-Casentinese in the direction of Orvieto up to the exit of Bagnoregio.
The closest train station and Autostrada A1 exit are at Orvieto as well.

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