Up the Bridge to Civita di Bagnoregio

Finally made it to Rome (oh, it is soooo hard to stay awake that first day!), then it was off  to Civita di Bagnoregio, a tiny speck of a town to the north, surrounded by a deep ravine on all sides.

I know this town well, having lived here for two months in 2014 with the Civita Institute's Astra Zarina fellowship. My project was to create an architectural walking guide to the town, so with lots of research and lots of drawing, I got to know every stone...

Upon arrival in the mid-day heat, hauling my suitcase up the crazy steep pedestrian-only bridge, I arrived through the front arch and emerged into the piazza where I discovered a few faces I knew. As I made my way to my apartment, I came across even more people I knew, all so welcoming in that oh-so-warm Italian way.  It was actually surprisingly emotional for me, it felt in many respects like I was arriving home to see family.

I didn't have too much time to get ready before the DRAW CIVITA 2016 workshop participants arrived, so I didn't get to do too much sketching. Instead, I was making sure everything worked --trying to fix the internet, buying and assembling a fan, getting groceries.  This was to be my fourth annual workshop here!

There is something really special about this place...I don't know what it is, but it is extraordinary. I think a lot of people feel it when they walk through that main gate...maybe it's that there are no cars, so you are plunged back into Etruscan streets, Medieval and Renaissance buildings...and things stop right about there...this place is timeless.