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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.

#1

Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

www.zettravel.com Report

#2

Riomaggiore, Italy

Riomaggiore, Italy

Janos Gaspar Report

#3

Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

Fabian84 Report

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#4

Santorini, Greece

Santorini, Greece

yachtgulet.com Report

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#5

Azenhas Do Mar, Sintra, Portugal

Azenhas Do Mar, Sintra, Portugal

Joe Daniel Price Report

#6

Rocamadour, France

Rocamadour, France

Karsten Hansen Report

#7

Ronda, Spain

Ronda, Spain

Zu Sanchez Report

#8

Vernazza, Italy

Vernazza, Italy

Pieter Arnolli Report

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#9

Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy

Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy

Petr Kosyh Report

#10

Wadi Dawan, Yemen

Wadi Dawan, Yemen

Llorenç Montori Report

#11

Piodao, Historical Village Of Portugal

Piodao, Historical Village Of Portugal

Nuno Trindade Report

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#12

Meteora, Greece

Meteora, Greece

www.hotelalexiou.com Report

#13

Vernazza, Italy

Vernazza, Italy

Estremo Pecunia Report

#14

Manarola, Italy

Manarola, Italy

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#15

Civita Di Bagnoregio, Italy

Civita Di Bagnoregio, Italy

Gabriele Mambrini Report

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#16

Al Hajarah, Yemen

Al Hajarah, Yemen

Jan Vandorpe Report

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#17

Positano, Italy

Positano, Italy

Julia Jackson Report

#18

Bonifacio, France

Bonifacio, France

Sebastiaan Verschuren Report

#19

Pitigliano, Italy

Pitigliano, Italy

Massimo Squillace Report

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#20

Haraz, Yemen

Haraz, Yemen

Waleed Nasser Report

#21

Ronda, Spain

Ronda, Spain

Joakim Davidsson Report

#22

Bonifacio, Corse, France

Bonifacio, Corse, France

Frederic Busche Report

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#23

Rocamadour, France

Rocamadour, France

Justin Spooner Report

#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

Ataruga Report

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#30

Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta

Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta

www.felipepitta.com Report

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#31

Meteora, Greece

Meteora, Greece

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#32

La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz, Bolivia

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#33

Mesa Verde, Colorado, Usa

Mesa Verde, Colorado, Usa

www.jimshoemakerphotography.com Report

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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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#36

San Marino

San Marino

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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

www.google.co.mz Report

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#42

Tropea (calabria)

Tropea (calabria)

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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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#48

House On Drina River, Serbia

House On Drina River, Serbia

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#49

Porto, Portugal

Porto, Portugal

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#50

Motovun, Istria, Croatia

Motovun, Istria, Croatia

sobrecroacia.com Report

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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

Jose Maria Ruiz Aguilar Report

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#58

Valparaiso, Chile

Valparaiso, Chile

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#59

Bonifacio, Corsica, France

Bonifacio, Corsica, France

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#60

Amalfi, Italy

Amalfi, Italy

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#61

Masuleh, Iran

Masuleh, Iran

www.anobanini.com Report

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#62

Constantine-algeria

Constantine-algeria

commons.wikimedia.org Report

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#63

Constantine bridge - Algeria

Constantine bridge - Algeria

commons.wikimedia.org Report

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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

Azlan Hashim Report

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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

www.rangoutlet.com Report

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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

www.infoconstantine.com Report

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#76

Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy

Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy

www.billsumner.com Report

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#77

Georgia, Tbilisi

Georgia, Tbilisi

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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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#91

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#92

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#93

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