Gubbio

Gubbio: discover Umbria’s Siena with this quaint medieval town, surrounded by the magical Umbrian countryside.

gubbioGubbio lies in Northern Umbria, near the Le Marche region. It has an extremely long history, first appearing in the Bronze Age. Since then, Gubbio has seen crusades, various noble families control it, a bishop that later become a saint, and its inclusion into the papal states in the early 17th Century.

What you see today is a medieval town, which still boasts some more ancient remains. For example, you can visit the town’s own Ancient Roman theater, which dates back to the 1st Century BC. In the summer season, you can even enjoy live performances in this magical space! The Palazzo dei Consoli saw construction start in the early 1300s, and holds the very old Eugubine Tables. These bronze tablets hold engravings which historians believe to be one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Umbrian. Apart from these, the palazzo also holds a museum

Gubbio’s Cathedral has interesting interiors, though its façade is perhaps more noteworthy. Here you will find a rose window, whose sides feature the animal symbols of the Saints John, Mark, Matthew and Luke – the Evangelists. In Gubbio’s center you will also find the Palazzo Ducale, this dates all the way back to the late 15th Century, and has a pleasant inner courtyard. This is often compared to that in Urbino.

The 15th May is always a fun day to be in Gubbio, when the Corsa dei Ceri is held. Here teams dedicated to Saints Ubaldo, Giorgio and Antonio race from the Palazzo dei Consoli up to the Basilica di St. Ubaldo. The competing teams wear distinctive and traditional costumes, whilst also carrying large statues of their saint. This event is famous throughout Italy because of its cultural and historical importance.

For some great views of Gubbio, you can take the funicular up the Mount Ingino. This lies just above the town. Moreover, nearby you will find the Monte Cucco Nature Park. Here you can go hiking or biking, or simply take a scenic drive through the gorgeous surroundings.

Because of its size, Gubbio does not have a train station. Thus, the easiest way to reach the town is by car or bus. You can take the train to the nearby Fossato di Vico, then take the half-hour bus through to Gubbio.

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