90+ Of The Most Stunning Cliff-Side Towns And Villages

Cities built on cliffs present a striking contrast between the natural world and the structures we build to challenge and overcome it. These photos capture stunning views of some of the world’s most epic cliff-side towns and villages.

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

If you’ve ever traveled to a cliff-side city with stunning views, we’d love to see them! Please add your photos to this list and vote for your favorites.

01. Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Typical Balkanic houses on a hill in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.

Source

02. Rio Maggiore, Italy

Panorama of Riomaggiore and wonderful sunset, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy, Europe

source

03. Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

Source

04. Santorini, Greece

Source

05. Azenhas Do Mar, Sintra, Portugal

Source

06. Rocamadour, France

Source

07. Ronda, Spain

Source

08. Vernazza, Italy

Source

09. Pitigliano, Grosseto, Italy

Source

10. Wadi Dawan, Yemen

Source

11. Piodao, Historical Village Of Portugal

Source

12. Meteora, Greece

Source

13. Vernazza, Italy

Source

14. Manarola, Italy

Source

15. Civita Di Bagnoregio, Italy

Source

16. Al Hajarah, Yemen

Source

17. Positano, Italy

Source

18. Bonifacio, France

Source

19. Pitigliano, Italy

Source

20. Haraz, Yemen

Source

21. Ronda, Spain

Source

22. Bonifacio, Corse, France

Source

23. Rocamadour, France

Source

24. Oia, Santorini, Greece

Source

25. Gordes, Provence, Southern France

Source

26. Hajarah, Yemen

Source

27. Mont Saint-Michel, France

Source

28. Town Rab, Croatia

Source

29. Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

Source

30. Vernazza At Dusk, Cinque Terre, Italy | Felipe Pitta

Vernazza has no car traffic and remains one of the most authentic “fishing villages”, probably the most characteristic of the Cinque Terre, and is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. It was founded about 1000 A.D. and ruled by the Republic of Genoa in 1276. Subtle colorful pastels surround the tiny port, and the charming piazza is lined with good restaurants and bars. The village is surrounded by steeply-terraced olive groves that produce among the finest olive oil in the country.

Source

31. Meteora, Greece

Source

32. La Paz, Bolivia

Source

33. Mesa Verde, Colorado, USA

Source

34. Cuenca, Spain

Source

35. Omis, Croatia

Aerial Panorama of Omis and Cetina River Gorge in the Evening, Dalmatia, Croatia

Source

36. San Marino

Source

37. Rio Maggiore, Italy

Source

38. Castellfollit De La Roca, La Garrotxa, Catalunya

Source

39. Calcata, Italy

Source

40. Sidi Bousaid- Tunisia

Source

41. Guanajuato, Mexico

Source

42. Tropea (Calabria)

Source

43. Positano, Italy

Source

44. Polignano A Mare, Italy

Source

45. Portofino, Italy

Source

46. Castelmezzano, Italy

Source

47. Polignano A Mare, Apulia, Itay

Source

48. House On Drina River, Serbia

Source

49. Porto, Portugal

Source

50. Motovun, Istria, Croatia

Source

51. Casares, Malaga, Spain

Source

52. San Marino

Source

53. Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain

Source

54. Manarola

Source

55. Ohrid, Macedonia

Source

56. Rhonda, Spain

Source

57. Comares, Spain

Source

58. Valparaiso, Chile

Source

59. Bonifacio, Corsica, France

Source

60. Amalfi, Italy

Source

61. Masuleh, Iran

Source

62. Constantine, Algeria

Source

63. Constantine Bridge, Algeria

Source

64. Arcos De La Frontera, Spain

Source

65. Ma’lulla, Syria

Source

66. Monastery Of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, Greece

Source

67. Corte, Corsica, France

Source

68. Amalfi, Italy

Source

69. Rio Maggiore, Italy

Source

70. Vernazza

Source

71. Manarola

Source

72. Jodhpur, India

Source

73. Jaisalmer, India

Source

74. Rio Maggiore At Sunset, Cinque Terre, Italy

Source

75. Sidi Rached, Algeria

Source

76. Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy

Source

77. Tbilisi, Georgia

Source

78. La Paz, Bolivia

Source

79. Ohrid, Macedonia

Source

80. Taegukdo Village, Busan, South Korea

Source

81. Tenerife, Spain

Source

82. Portofino, Italy

Source

83. Veliko Tranovo, Bulgaria

Source

84. Frias, Burgos Province, Spain – Village And Castle Perched On A Clifftop

Source

85. Cefalu, Italy – Cliff-Side Towns And Villages

Source

86. Manarola, La Spezia, Italy

Source

87. Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Source

88. Monemvasia, Greece

Source

89. Jezzine – The Town On The Cliff, Lebanon

Source

90. Darjeeling, India – December 2007

Source

91. Berat, Albania

Source

92. Clifton, Cape Town, Republic Of South Africa

Source

93. Frigiliana, Spain – Cliff-Side Towns And Villages

Source

Like what you’re reading? Subscribe to our top stories.