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Cliff dwellings present us with a striking contrast between the natural world and the amazing architecture that we build to challenge and overcome it. These photos capture stunning views of some of the most epic mountain towns in the world.

Many old cities or dwellings could have been built on cliffs for a variety of different reasons, but this was most often done with defensive advantages in mind. A high altitude city overlooking a sea passage has a superior command of the surrounding waters and is virtually impossible to assault from the water. Ancient cities on steep hills, on the other hand, might have been built there to defend from land-based aggressors or because of their proximity to important landmarks like rivers.

If you've ever traveled to a small town on a cliff-side with stunning views, we'd love to see them! Please add your photos to this list and vote for your favorites as well.

#3

Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

Fabian84 Report

#4

Santorini, Greece

Santorini, Greece

yachtgulet.com Report

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HarmButer
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Santorini is an Italian name for a Greek island east of the Peloponnesos peninsula that some 3000 years ago was at least twice as big,

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#9

Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy

Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy

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#14

Manarola, Italy

Manarola, Italy

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#16

Al Hajarah, Yemen

Al Hajarah, Yemen

Jan Vandorpe Report

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Amanda Davies
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very pretty, a lot of buildings crammed into a little space, but possibly.incrdibly.convenient....

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#17

Positano, Italy

Positano, Italy

Julia Jackson Report

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DarylPungitore
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have now amended my wish list to places i will visit in my next 4 lives!!!

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#19

Pitigliano, Italy

Pitigliano, Italy

Massimo Squillace Report

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#22

Bonifacio, Corse, France

Bonifacio, Corse, France

Frederic Busche Report

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#24

Oia, Santorini, Greece

Oia, Santorini, Greece

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#25

Gordes, Provence, Southern France

Gordes, Provence, Southern France

Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho Report

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#26

Hajarah, Yemen

Hajarah, Yemen

russavia Report

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#27

Mont Saint-michel, France

Mont Saint-michel, France

alizeelifestyle.com Report

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#28

Town Rab, Croatia

Town Rab, Croatia

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#29

Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

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#30

Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta

Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta

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#31

Meteora, Greece

Meteora, Greece

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#32

La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz, Bolivia

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#34

Cuenca, Spain

Cuenca, Spain

famouswonders.com Report

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#35

Omis, Croatia

Omis, Croatia

Andrey Omelyanchuk Report

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#37

Riomaggiore, Italy

Riomaggiore, Italy

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#38

Castellfollit De La Roca, La Garrotxa,catalunya.

Castellfollit De La Roca, La Garrotxa,catalunya.

castellfollitdelaroca.org Report

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#39

Calcata, Italy

Calcata, Italy

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#40

Sidi Bousaid- Tunisia

Sidi Bousaid- Tunisia

fineartamerica.com Report

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#41

Guanajuato, Mexico

Guanajuato, Mexico

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#43

Positano, Italy

Positano, Italy

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#44

Polignano A Mare, Italy

Polignano A Mare, Italy

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#45

Portofino, Italy

Portofino, Italy

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#46

Castelmezzano, Italy

Castelmezzano, Italy

elliottbisnow.com Report

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#47

Polignano A Mare, Apulia, Itay

Polignano A Mare, Apulia, Itay

iuri Report

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#49

Porto, Portugal

Porto, Portugal

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#50

Motovun, Istria, Croatia

Motovun, Istria, Croatia

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#51

Casares, Malaga, Spain

Casares, Malaga, Spain

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#52

San Marino

San Marino

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#53

Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

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#54

#manarola

#manarola

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#55

Ohrid, Macedonia

Ohrid, Macedonia

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#56

Rhonda, Spain

Rhonda, Spain

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#57

Comares, Spain

Comares, Spain

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#59

Bonifacio, Corsica, France

Bonifacio, Corsica, France

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#60

Amalfi, Italy

Amalfi, Italy

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#62

Constantine-algeria

Constantine-algeria

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#63

Constantine bridge - Algeria

Constantine bridge - Algeria

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#64

Arcos De La Frontera, Spain

Arcos De La Frontera, Spain

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#65

Ma'lulla, Syria

Ma'lulla, Syria

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#66

Monastery Of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, Greece

Monastery Of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, Greece

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#67

Corte, Corsica, France

Corte, Corsica, France

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#68

Amalfi, Italy

Amalfi, Italy

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#69

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore

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#70

Vernazza

Vernazza

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#71

Manarola

Manarola

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#72

Jodhpur, India

Jodhpur, India

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#73

Jaisalmer, India

Jaisalmer, India

www.rangoutlet.com Report

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#74

Riomaggiore At Sunset. Cinque Terre Italy

Riomaggiore At Sunset. Cinque Terre Italy

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#75

Sidi Rached - Algeria

Sidi Rached - Algeria

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#76

Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy

Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy

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#78

La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz, Bolivia

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#79

Ohrid, Macedonia

Ohrid, Macedonia

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#80

Taegukdo Village, Busan, South Korea

Taegukdo Village, Busan, South Korea

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#81

Tenerife , Spain

Tenerife , Spain

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#82

Portofino, Italy

Portofino, Italy

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#83

Veliko Tranovo - Bulgaria

Veliko Tranovo - Bulgaria

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#84

Frias, Burgos Province, Spain - Village And Castle Perched On A Clifftop

Frias, Burgos Province, Spain - Village And Castle Perched On A Clifftop

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#85

Cefalu, Italy

Cefalu, Italy

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#86

Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

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#87

Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

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#88

Monemvasia, Greece

Monemvasia, Greece

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#89

Jezzine -the Town On The Cliff , Lebanon

Jezzine -the Town On The Cliff , Lebanon

www.panoramio.com Report

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#90

Darjeeling Ii, India - December 2007

Darjeeling Ii, India - December 2007

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#93

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