There’s been plenty of chatter over the past couple of years about Harry Styles quietly buying a house in a tiny Italian hill town with just 11 inhabitants. This steady stream of reports suggests the former One Direction star swapped stadium tours for a stone house perched above a valley in rural Lazio.
Harry Styles’ house in Civita di Bagnoregio
Several Italian property and lifestyle outlets report that Styles purchased a recently restored Etruscan-style house in Civita di Bagnoregio. One of the most beautiful villages in Italy, Bagnoregio is a historic hill town in the province of Viterbo.
The property is described as a family home with a garden and sweeping views over the Valle dei Calanchi. The Daily Mail has also linked Styles to time spent living in Civita following the end of his Love On Tour tour, portraying it as a retreat from public life.
Style has publicly expressed his affection for Italy, telling fans during a show in Bologna that some of the happiest and most special moments of his life have been in the country. His appearance in St Peter’s Square in Rome for the announcement of the new pope has only reinforced the sense that Italy is more than a passing stop on his travel schedule.
Where is Civita di Bagnoregio, and why is it called the “dying city”?
A top destination for 2026, if you're looking for Italy's most beautiful towns, Civita di Bagnoregio sits on the border between Lazio and Umbria. The village was built over 2,500 years ago by the Etruscans and still follows its ancient urban layout.
Its nickname, “the dying town”, comes from the slow erosion of the rock on which it stands. The hill is worn away by wind, rain, landslides and seismic activity, losing an estimated seven centimetres of land each year.
Access is part of the drama. Civita is reachable only via a long pedestrian footbridge that connects it to the newer town of Bagnoregio.
What is it actually like to live there?
Civita’s permanent population has dwindled over the decades, at times reported as low as seven full-time residents, and now commonly cited at around 11.
There’s a small cluster of restaurants and souvenir shops geared largely towards visitors. Essentials require a walk back across the bridge and a drive into Bagnoregio or further afield.
Why Civita attracts high-profile buyers
For a village with barely a dozen permanent residents, Civita di Bagnoregio has an outsized cultural profile. It has the sort of theatrical setting that naturally draws filmmakers, writers and public figures.
Over the years, several well-known figures have been linked to the village, either through property ownership or creative projects.
- Giuseppe Tornatore
Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore reportedly decided to buy a house in Civita after filming scenes there. - Paolo Crepet
The psychiatrist and writer is also cited as owning a historic residence in the village, having transformed a palace into a country home.
Beyond individual names, Civita di Bagnoregio regularly appears in film and television productions, including the 2008 Italian adaptation of Pinocchio.
It has long attracted directors drawn to its dramatic setting; the village has been used as a filming location for works by Federico Fellini and is officially recognised by Italy for Movies as an established cinematic location.
Visiting Civita di Bagnoregio today
For visitors, Civita remains one of central Italy’s most striking destinations, included in Italy's official list of Borghi più belli d’Italia, or '"Most Beautiful Villages in Italy".
Despite its tiny resident population, it’s close enough to Rome for a day trip, drawing steady day-trippers who now pay a €5 entry fee to cross the long pedestrian bridge and spend a few hours inside its stone walls.
Best things to do in Civita di Bagnoregio
First of all, the walk up is part of the experience, with wide views over the Valle dei Calanchi and the surrounding badlands.
Porta Santa Maria
The main gateway into the village is carved directly into the tuff rock.
Piazza San Donato and the Church of San Donato
The small central square forms the heart of the village. The Church of San Donato, originally a cathedral, houses religious artworks.
Geological and Landslide Museum
Given Civita’s nickname as the “dying town”, this museum adds useful context.
Belvedere dei Calanchi
For wide valley views, this viewpoint looks out over the clay formations that surround the village.
Wandering the alleyways
Much of Civita’s appeal lies in its narrow lanes, stone staircases and small terraces overlooking the valleys.
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