A list of beautiful historic Italian towns built on cliffs
For centuries, human beings have defied nature and built cities in unusual and difficult to access environments. In the past, the Italian cities were built on the edge of cliffs for a variety of reasons, but most often because of defensive advantages.
A city on the side of a cliff overlooking the sea had better control of the surrounding waters and was practically impossible for the ocean to invade.
Hanging Italian cities, giving the idea that they are balancing themselves so as not to fall down the cliff, together with nature, give way to a picturesque landscape. Due to their beauty, they receive tourists from all over the world.
Browse the gallery and discover these 10 Italian cities unsuitable for those suffering from vertigo.
Manarola, Liguria
Built on a 70-meter-high rock, the city is one of the most romantic in the Cinque Terre – a group of four tourist cities on the shores of the Ligurian Sea.
Positano, Amalfi Coast
Positano is a town built on the slopes of the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy. The town is full of vertiginous colorful houses stacked on the hillside.
Tropea, Calabria
Tropea is a small town on the east coast of Calabria, in southern Italy. The city's buildings are stacked on a natural rock formation cliff, 50 meters above sea level, overlooking the turquoise waters of the beaches.
Pitigliano, Tuscany
Pitigliano is an Italian commune in the Tuscany region, with around 4 thousand inhabitants. Hanging from an outcrop of “tuff” (compressed volcanic ash), the rambling old medieval houses look like they are leaning on each other to ensure they don’t fall.
Polignano a Mare, Puglia
Polignano a Mare is an Italian city of almost 18 thousand inhabitants, situated on top of a 20 meter high limestone cliff. The city offers stunning views of the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. The local economy depends mainly on tourism, agriculture and fishing.
Sant'Agata de' Goti, Campania
Sant'Agata de' Goti is an Italian commune in the Campania region, province of Benevento, with around 11.500 inhabitants. This fascinating medieval village is situated on a cliff above the river gorge.
Ravello, Amalfi Coast
Set high in the hills of the glamorous Amalfi Coast, Ravello offers stupendous views of the Mediterranean, but its cliffside location keeps the crowds at bay. In the past, it was a bohemian retreat for celebrities. It is a city full of colorful houses and fragrant cobbled gardens, interspersed with cafes, shops and cooking schools.
Riomaggiore, Liguria
Riomaggiore – the first terre for those leaving La Spezia – is believed to have been founded in the 7th century by a group of Greek refugees.
Vernazza, Spezia
Vernazza is one of the most loved and photographed towns on the stretch of rocky coast known as Cinque Terre in Liguria.
Civita Di Bagnoregio, Lazio
Less than two hours from Rome, this hilltop village is at risk of disappearing, but it still holds dreamlike scenery. If you watched the soap opera... Esperança , you may remember some of the first scenes of the plot, which showed young Toni, played by Reynaldo Gianecchini, walking around the city.
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