Tectonics and Structural Geology

Geomythology. Neotectonics and Monasticism

Filippo Carboni July 2, 2026

S. Eutizio Abbey. Lucia Padovini, via Wikimedia Common

With today’s post, I would like to temporarily leave (geo)myths behind and enter (geo)history. I was first introduced to the following historical account by Professor Francesco Brozzetti of the University of Chieti (Italy), whose extensive knowledge of the Apennines of Central Italy extends well beyond geology. Geological Origins of Monasticism This is the brief history of how monasticism spread t ...[Read More]

Tuna and Tufo: The geology and history of the Aegadian Islands near Sicily

Hannah Davies March 12, 2026

an image of a sea cove with rugged rocks to the right and bottom right of the image and clear blue sea water to the left and upper left of the image

Cala Rosa, "The red cove", in Favignana, Italy (By giomodica, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47696822)

The Aegadian or Egadi islands (not to be confused with the Aegean islands situated between present day Greece and Türkiye) is a small archipelago of islands around 20 km off the Western coast of Sicily. These islands are most known for their historic industries, namely for a type of rock quarried from the largest island (Favignana) and the large tuna fishery around the island. In recent times this ...[Read More]

Civita di Bagnoregio – the dying town

Elenora van Rijsingen December 4, 2019

Civita di Bagnoregio - The Dying Town. Credit: Elenora van Rijsingen (distributed via Immageo)

On top of a steep cliff standing out from the surrounding countryside, lies the small town of Civita di Bagnoregio, one of the most famous villages of Italy. It is often called the dying town, although more recently people have started to refer to it as fighting to live. What this little town is fighting against is the threat of erosion, as its walls are slowly crumbling down. Located in central I ...[Read More]