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.
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Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
And check out Tarnovo in winter http://veliko-tarnov.../vt-27-1024.jpg
Riomaggiore, Italy
Manarola, La Spezia, Italy
Santorini, Greece
Azenhas Do Mar, Sintra, Portugal
Rocamadour, France
Ronda, Spain
Vernazza, Italy
Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy
Wadi Dawan, Yemen
Piodao, Historical Village Of Portugal
Meteora, Greece
Vernazza, Italy
Manarola, Italy
Civita Di Bagnoregio, Italy
Al Hajarah, Yemen
Very pretty, a lot of buildings crammed into a little space, but possibly.incrdibly.convenient....
Positano, Italy
I have now amended my wish list to places i will visit in my next 4 lives!!!
Bonifacio, France
Pitigliano, Italy
Haraz, Yemen
Ronda, Spain
Bonifacio, Corse, France
Rocamadour, France
Oia, Santorini, Greece
Gordes, Provence, Southern France
Hajarah, Yemen
Mont Saint-michel, France
Town Rab, Croatia
Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain
Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta
Meteora, Greece
La Paz, Bolivia
Mesa Verde, Colorado, Usa
Cuenca, Spain
Omis, Croatia
San Marino
Riomaggiore, Italy
Castellfollit De La Roca, La Garrotxa,catalunya.
Calcata, Italy
Sidi Bousaid- Tunisia
Guanajuato, Mexico
Tropea (calabria)
Positano, Italy
Polignano A Mare, Italy
Portofino, Italy
Castelmezzano, Italy
Polignano A Mare, Apulia, Itay
House On Drina River, Serbia
Porto, Portugal
Motovun, Istria, Croatia
Casares, Malaga, Spain
San Marino
Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain
#manarola
Ohrid, Macedonia
Rhonda, Spain
Comares, Spain
Valparaiso, Chile
Bonifacio, Corsica, France
Amalfi, Italy
Masuleh, Iran
Constantine-algeria
Constantine bridge - Algeria
Arcos De La Frontera, Spain
Ma'lulla, Syria
Monastery Of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, Greece
Corte, Corsica, France
Amalfi, Italy
Riomaggiore
Vernazza
Manarola
Jodhpur, India
Jaisalmer, India
Riomaggiore At Sunset. Cinque Terre Italy
Sidi Rached - Algeria
Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy
Georgia, Tbilisi
La Paz, Bolivia
Ohrid, Macedonia
Taegukdo Village, Busan, South Korea
Tenerife , Spain
Portofino, Italy
Veliko Tranovo - Bulgaria
Frias, Burgos Province, Spain - Village And Castle Perched On A Clifftop
Cefalu, Italy
Manarola, La Spezia, Italy
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Monemvasia, Greece
Jezzine -the Town On The Cliff , Lebanon
Darjeeling Ii, India - December 2007
Just beautiful towns...All lovely, but a pity the photos aren't from the sea, which really shows the architecture and coves.
Just beautiful towns...All lovely, but a pity the photos aren't from the sea, which really shows the architecture and coves.