Cities built on cliffs present a striking contrast between the natural world and the structures we build to challenge and overcome it. These photos capture stunning views of some of the world’s most epic cliff-side towns and villages.
Many cities or dwellings could have been built on cliffs for various reasons, but this was most often done with defensive advantages in mind. A cliff-side city overlooking a sea passage has a superior command of the surrounding waters and is virtually impossible to assault from the water. On the other hand, towns on steep hills might have been built there to defend themselves from land-based aggressors or because of their proximity to important landmarks like rivers.
If you’ve ever traveled to a cliff-side city with stunning views, we’d love to see them! Please add your photos to this list and vote for your favorites.
01. Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Typical Balkanic houses on a hill in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.
02. Rio Maggiore, Italy
Panorama of Riomaggiore and wonderful sunset, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy, Europe
03. Manarola, La Spezia, Italy
04. Santorini, Greece
05. Azenhas Do Mar, Sintra, Portugal
06. Rocamadour, France
07. Ronda, Spain
08. Vernazza, Italy
09. Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy
10. Wadi Dawan, Yemen
11. Piodao, Historical Village Of Portugal
12. Meteora, Greece
13. Vernazza, Italy
14. Manarola, Italy
15. Civita Di Bagnoregio, Italy
16. Al Hajarah, Yemen
17. Positano, Italy
18. Bonifacio, France
19. Pitigliano, Italy
20. Haraz, Yemen
21. Ronda, Spain
22. Bonifacio, Corse, France
23. Rocamadour, France
24. Oia, Santorini, Greece
25. Gordes, Provence, Southern France
26. Hajarah, Yemen
27. Mont Saint-Michel, France
28. Town Rab, Croatia
29. Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain
30. Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta
Vernazza has no car traffic and remains one of the most authentic fishing villages, probably the most characteristic of the Cinque Terre, and is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. It was founded about 1000 A.D. and ruled by the Republic of Genoa in 1276. Subtle colorful pastels surround the tiny port, and the charming piazza is lined with good restaurants and bars. The village is surrounded by steeply-terraced olive groves that produce among the finest olive oil in the country.
31. Meteora, Greece
32. La Paz, Bolivia
33. Mesa Verde, Colorado, USA
34. Cuenca, Spain
35. Omis, Croatia
Aerial Panorama of Omis and Cetina River Gorge in the Evening, Dalmatia, Croatia
36. San Marino
37. Rio Maggiore, Italy
38. Castellfollit De La Roca, La Garrotxa, Catalunya
39. Calcata, Italy
40. Sidi Bousaid- Tunisia
41. Guanajuato, Mexico
42. Tropea (Calabria)
43. Positano, Italy
44. Polignano A Mare, Italy
45. Portofino, Italy
46. Castelmezzano, Italy
47. Polignano A Mare, Apulia, Itay
48. House On Drina River, Serbia
49. Porto, Portugal
50. Motovun, Istria, Croatia
51. Casares, Malaga, Spain
52. San Marino
53. Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain
54. Manarola
55. Ohrid, Macedonia
56. Rhonda, Spain
57. Comares, Spain
58. Valparaiso, Chile
59. Bonifacio, Corsica, France
60. Amalfi, Italy
61. Masuleh, Iran
62. Constantine, Algeria
63. Constantine Bridge, Algeria
64. Arcos De La Frontera, Spain
65. Ma’lulla, Syria
66. Monastery Of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, Greece
67. Corte, Corsica, France
68. Amalfi, Italy
69. Rio Maggiore, Italy
70. Vernazza
71. Manarola
72. Jodhpur, India
73. Jaisalmer, India
74. Rio Maggiore At Sunset, Cinque Terre, Italy
75. Sidi Rached, Algeria
76. Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy
77. Tbilisi, Georgia
78. La Paz, Bolivia
79. Ohrid, Macedonia
80. Taegukdo Village, Busan, South Korea
81. Tenerife, Spain
82. Portofino, Italy
83. Veliko Tranovo, Bulgaria
84. Frias, Burgos Province, Spain – Village And Castle Perched On A Clifftop
85. Cefalu, Italy – Cliff-Side Towns And Villages
86. Manarola, La Spezia, Italy
87. Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
88. Monemvasia, Greece
89. Jezzine – The Town On The Cliff, Lebanon
90. Darjeeling, India – December 2007
91. Berat, Albania
92. Clifton, Cape Town, Republic Of South Africa
93. Frigiliana, Spain – Cliff-Side Towns And Villages
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