New York Times writer Jim Yardley explores a tiny but breathtaking village slowly meeting its ill-fated doom.

Perched atop a steep hill 75 miles north of Rome, Civita di Bagnoregio is a true wonder, built by the Etruscans some 2,500 years ago. Over the past few centuries, however, the ancient town began to erode, collapsing piece by piece down its surrounding cliffs; and, by the late 1970s, Civita found itself almost completely abandoned.

Thanks to a sudden boom in tourism, “The City that is Dying” is beginning to breathe life again: While a mere eight people inhabit the town year-round, its newly opened restaurants and boutiques greet roughly half a million visitors annually.

See for yourself why so many people are seeking out this beautiful gem, and make a plan to visit it while you still can.

Read the full article and view more photos on New York Times.