ADVERTISEMENT

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.

RELATED:
    #3

    Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

    Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

    Fabian84 Report

    #4

    Santorini, Greece

    Santorini, Greece

    yachtgulet.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    HarmButer
    Community Member
    10 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,

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy

    Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy

    Petr Kosyh Report

    #14

    Manarola, Italy

    Manarola, Italy

    Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #16

    Al Hajarah, Yemen

    Al Hajarah, Yemen

    Jan Vandorpe Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Amanda Davies
    Community Member
    10 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....

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    Positano, Italy

    Positano, Italy

    Julia Jackson Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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!!!

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #19

    Pitigliano, Italy

    Pitigliano, Italy

    Massimo Squillace Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #22

    Bonifacio, Corse, France

    Bonifacio, Corse, France

    Frederic Busche Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #24

    Oia, Santorini, Greece

    Oia, Santorini, Greece

    Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #25

    Gordes, Provence, Southern France

    Gordes, Provence, Southern France

    Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #26

    Hajarah, Yemen

    Hajarah, Yemen

    russavia Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #27

    Mont Saint-michel, France

    Mont Saint-michel, France

    alizeelifestyle.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #28

    Town Rab, Croatia

    Town Rab, Croatia

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #29

    Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

    Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

    Ataruga Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #30

    Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta

    Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta

    www.felipepitta.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #31

    Meteora, Greece

    Meteora, Greece

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #32

    La Paz, Bolivia

    La Paz, Bolivia

    Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #34

    Cuenca, Spain

    Cuenca, Spain

    famouswonders.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #35

    Omis, Croatia

    Omis, Croatia

    Andrey Omelyanchuk Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #37

    Riomaggiore, Italy

    Riomaggiore, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #38

    Castellfollit De La Roca, La Garrotxa,catalunya.

    Castellfollit De La Roca, La Garrotxa,catalunya.

    castellfollitdelaroca.org Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #39

    Calcata, Italy

    Calcata, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #40

    Sidi Bousaid- Tunisia

    Sidi Bousaid- Tunisia

    fineartamerica.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #41

    Guanajuato, Mexico

    Guanajuato, Mexico

    www.google.co.mz Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #43

    Positano, Italy

    Positano, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #44

    Polignano A Mare, Italy

    Polignano A Mare, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #45

    Portofino, Italy

    Portofino, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #46

    Castelmezzano, Italy

    Castelmezzano, Italy

    elliottbisnow.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #47

    Polignano A Mare, Apulia, Itay

    Polignano A Mare, Apulia, Itay

    iuri Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #49

    Porto, Portugal

    Porto, Portugal

    Report

    #50

    Motovun, Istria, Croatia

    Motovun, Istria, Croatia

    sobrecroacia.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #51

    Casares, Malaga, Spain

    Casares, Malaga, Spain

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #52

    San Marino

    San Marino

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #53

    Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

    Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #54

    #manarola

    #manarola

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #55

    Ohrid, Macedonia

    Ohrid, Macedonia

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #56

    Rhonda, Spain

    Rhonda, Spain

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #57

    Comares, Spain

    Comares, Spain

    Jose Maria Ruiz Aguilar Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #59

    Bonifacio, Corsica, France

    Bonifacio, Corsica, France

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #60

    Amalfi, Italy

    Amalfi, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #62

    Constantine-algeria

    Constantine-algeria

    commons.wikimedia.org Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #63

    Constantine bridge - Algeria

    Constantine bridge - Algeria

    commons.wikimedia.org Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #64

    Arcos De La Frontera, Spain

    Arcos De La Frontera, Spain

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #65

    Ma'lulla, Syria

    Ma'lulla, Syria

    Azlan Hashim Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #66

    Monastery Of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, Greece

    Monastery Of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, Greece

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #67

    Corte, Corsica, France

    Corte, Corsica, France

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #68

    Amalfi, Italy

    Amalfi, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #69

    Riomaggiore

    Riomaggiore

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #70

    Vernazza

    Vernazza

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #71

    Manarola

    Manarola

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #72

    Jodhpur, India

    Jodhpur, India

    www.rangoutlet.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #73

    Jaisalmer, India

    Jaisalmer, India

    www.rangoutlet.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #74

    Riomaggiore At Sunset. Cinque Terre Italy

    Riomaggiore At Sunset. Cinque Terre Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #75

    Sidi Rached - Algeria

    Sidi Rached - Algeria

    www.infoconstantine.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #76

    Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy

    Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy

    www.billsumner.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #78

    La Paz, Bolivia

    La Paz, Bolivia

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #79

    Ohrid, Macedonia

    Ohrid, Macedonia

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #80

    Taegukdo Village, Busan, South Korea

    Taegukdo Village, Busan, South Korea

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #81

    Tenerife , Spain

    Tenerife , Spain

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #82

    Portofino, Italy

    Portofino, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #83

    Veliko Tranovo - Bulgaria

    Veliko Tranovo - Bulgaria

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #84

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

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

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #85

    Cefalu, Italy

    Cefalu, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #86

    Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

    Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #87

    Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

    Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #88

    Monemvasia, Greece

    Monemvasia, Greece

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #89

    Jezzine -the Town On The Cliff , Lebanon

    Jezzine -the Town On The Cliff , Lebanon

    www.panoramio.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #90

    Darjeeling Ii, India - December 2007

    Darjeeling Ii, India - December 2007

    Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #91

    This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

    #92

    This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

    #93

    This submission is hidden. Click here to view.