GUBBIO

One of the most beautiful towns in the Umbria region.
The town of Gubbio is located in the northern part of Umbria. It’s an amazing medieval town that beautifully preserves its historical character. The town sits on the slopes of Mount Ingino, and the transition between different parts can be made on foot or by using elevators.
Parking – for the route in Waze click here.
The primary destination on the walking route – Piazza Grande. You can reach it on foot or by the elevator located at the end of Via Republica (click here Gubbio Elevator). On the right side, you will find the tourist information point. From the square above, you can enjoy a stunning view of the entire town.
Another way to enjoy the stunning beauty of the town is by taking the cable car to the summit.http://www.funiviagubbio.it
Departure point: the letter G on the map. (on the left side).
You can also reach the church at the top on foot by wandering through the alleys of the town that lead to a dirt road winding upwards. By the way, the walking route is often taken by local residents, sometimes even while running, carrying a weight of 280 kg, as part of the Ceri festival that takes place in May (details about the festival will follow).
It is also possible to drive up to the church via the paved road Via sant’ubaldo.
There is also an option to take the cable car. You park your car at the bottom cable car station.The ride is in a kind of ‘cage’ car with individuals or couples. Please note that the ‘car’ does not stop; you must get on and off while it is in motion.
Do not miss this experience!
For the cable car website, click here: Cable Car Sant Ubaldo – Gubbio
Here you can check the cable car operating hours, rest hours, and days it is closed.
A recommended festival to visit:
Every year in mid-May, the Corsa dei Ceri race takes place, attracting tens of thousands of tourists. The candles are actually heavy, polygonal wooden beams (weighing 280 kg) lifted to a height of 4 meters!
At the top of the candles are the figures of the saints: Ubaldus (the bishop of the city in the 11th century who became a saint and the patron of the town), George (a warrior who refused to abandon his Christian faith and thus sacrificed his life), and Antonio (a monk, ascetic, Christian from Egypt). Each candle is called a Cero, and the participants in the race are called Cerioli. The importance of the race and the candles is underscored by the fact that the flag of the entire Umbria region features the three candles.
After the race, everyone – the runners, organizers, townspeople, and tourists – gathers for a grand feast accompanied by celebrations.
The colorful race is a lifelong experience and it’s definitely worth planning your visit for mid-May.
Worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBS90yBOxZE

Walking route in the city:
After parking at Piazza dei Martiri and taking the elevator to Piazza Grande, follow the route below.
First: If you are interested in the history of languages, it is recommended to enter the Palazzo dei Consoli where, as part of the municipal museum Museo Civico, you will discover one of the most important finds in Italy and in the history of the Italian language of the peoples before the great Roman period – “the Iguvine tablets” (Iguvium = Gubbio).
These are seven bronze tablets containing information about rituals for priests, some of which are written in an ancient Italic alphabet, and were created between the 7th century BC and the 1st century BC. In addition to the ancient language, this term is also used today to describe the dialect of the Italian language spoken in the Umbria region. (To visit the museum click here: The Municipal Museum of Gubbio)
The city is situated on a mountain slope, so it’s advisable to first make your way to the main church (not the Church of St. Ubald, which is higher up, but rather the Cathedral of Saints Mariano and Giacomo). Its façade showcases Romanesque architecture adorned with stained glass windows and carvings illustrating the story of Christ’s baptism. While the interior of the church may appear modest, this simplicity fosters a serene and sacred atmosphere for worshipers.
From this point onward, the path is all downhill.
An ideal place for a photo is the giant vat (for location, click here: the largest wine vat in Europe ) – a historical vat from the 16th century that once held 20,124 liters of wine (equivalent to 387 barrels, a measurement used in medieval times) and astonishingly remains intact today. It is recognized as the largest vat in Europe! Constructed entirely of oak wood, it contains no iron support columns or similar materials. The vat is upheld by wooden beams that cling to the wall. Presently, it is housed in a structure that was formerly a wine cellar of the Clergy Palace of Canonici and has since been transformed into the diocesan museum (Museo Diocesano), accessible through a separate entrance. The size of the vat suggests that wine from it was likely distributed or sold to local residents, emphasizing the significance of the episcopal institution in Gubbio.
This spot presents a fantastic opportunity for a ‘wine vat selfie’.
Continuing…
Through the maze of alleys, we returned to Piazza Grande and turned down Via dei Consoli towards the Fountain of Bargello, fontana del pazzo. Along the way, you can stop at one of the delicatessens to taste a variety of spreads produced in the area. What do we recommend? Truffle mushroom spread (recommended shop right after the large square on the left:
For location click here Store for truffle mushroom spreads and more).
Continue along the street. If you are a fan of ceramics, you can find amazing ceramic pieces at the Baffoni studio, and maybe even see an artist at work
(for the studio location click here Ceramics studio and shop).
Continuing….finally we arrived at the Fountain of the Mad.
To be honest, this fountain, from the 16th century, is named after the nearby structure, but it became known as the Fountain of the Mad due to a tradition of running around the fountain three times. However, it’s not enough just to run….during the run, a local resident from around (you can try one of the vendors or shopkeepers nearby) must be present to confirm the three laps around the fountain and will sprinkle you three times with water from the fountain (similar to the Christian baptism tradition). Only then, and only then, can you receive the certificate of madness (for a symbolic fee) from the association for the mad in the city. On the other hand, you can also buy such a certificate yourself at one of the nearby shops).
Continuing…
During the tour of the city, you will occasionally see, near the main entrance doors of the houses, small doors beside them. They are called ‘Doors of Death.’ The official reason states that these doors served as the main entrance to the house while the large door was an entrance to a shop/studio. So why the Door of Death? Another reason claims that the deceased family members were taken out through these doors. Afterwards, they made sure to close the door tight to say to ‘Death’: “You are only leaving here, there is no way back and entry allowed.”
Others argue that they were indeed used for protection, but for a different reason. It is said that this door served as a trap. These are low doors; if the city is attacked, the enemy looking for the residents in each house and wanting to enter through the low door finds, upon entering, a staircase that leads to the home’s inhabitants waiting at the top with weapons to push them back outside. They had a height advantage over him.
For whatever reason – some of these doors remained as part of the town’s character even though they are no longer in use. In the past, the municipality wanted to remove them altogether but eventually agreed to simply seal them. Nonetheless, in their hearts, some people still hold on to the belief.
Continuing… you will reach the T junction. You will find yourself in a small square named Piazza Giordano Bruno. Turn left and continue down the street until you exit the old area. You will arrive at a large public garden. Cross it, with a large Franciscan church on your right, and… you will be back at the parking lot in the Piazza dei 40 Martiri.
Recommended Restaurants in Gubbio
Via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, 23, 06024 Gubbio
0039-0753751509
Via Savelli della Porta, 65, 06024, Gubbio
0039-0753755180
Closed Tuesday