GUBBIO
One of the beautiful towns in the Umbria region.
The town of Gubbio is located in the northern part of Umbria. A stunning medieval town that wonderfully preserves its historical character. The town sits on the slopes of a mountain (Mount Ingino), and you can move between the different parts on foot or by using elevators.
Parking – for the route on Waze click here.
The primary destination of the walking route – Piazza Grande. You can reach it on foot or by using the elevator. Located at the end of Via Repubblica (click here Gubbio Elevator). On the right side, you will find the tourist information point. From the square above, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire town.
Another way to enjoy the stunning beauty of the town is by taking a cable car to the summit.http://www.funiviagubbio.it
Boarding point: the letter G on the map. (on the left side).
You can also reach the church above on foot by touring through the alleys of the town, leading to a winding dirt road upward. By the way, the walking route is used by the town’s residents, sometimes even running, carrying a weight of 280 kilos, as part of the Ceri festival that takes place in May (details about the festival – later on).
You can also drive up to the church at the top, via the paved road Via Sant’Ubald.
There is also an option to ascend by cable car. You park the car at the lower cable car station. The ascent occurs inside a sort of ‘cage’ with individuals or couples. Note that the ‘cabin’ does not stop, you need to get on and off while in motion.
Don’t miss this experience!
For the cable car website click here: Saint Ubald Cable Car – Gubbio
Here you can check the cable car operating hours, rest times, and days when it is closed.
A recommended festival to visit:
In the middle of May each year, the Corsa dei Ceri race takes place, attracting tens of thousands of tourists every year. The candles are actually very heavy hexagonal wooden poles (280 kg) raised to a height of 4 meters!
At the top of the candles are the figures of the saints: Ubaldo (the city’s bishop in the 11th century who became a saint and the patron of the town), George (a warrior who refused to give up his Christian faith and sacrificed his life for it), and Antonio (a monk, ascetic, and 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 further illustrated by the fact that the flag of the entire Umbria region features the three candles.
After the race, everyone – the runners, organizers, city officials, and tourists – gathers for a huge feast accompanied by celebrations.
The colorful race is a lifelong experience and it’s worth trying to plan your visit for mid-May.
Worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBS90yBOxZE
Walking route in the city:
After parking at the Piazza dei Martiri and taking the elevator to Piazza Grande, follow this route
First: If you are interested in the history of languages, it is recommended to enter the Palazzo dei Consoli. There, 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 that include information about ritual ceremonies for priests, written partially in an ancient Italic alphabet, created between the 7th century BCE and the 1st century BCE. In addition to the ancient language, the term is now also used 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 built on the slope of a hill, therefore it is recommended to first head towards the central church (not the Church of St. Ubald, which is up there, but rather the Cathedral of Saints Mariano and Giacomo, Cattedrale dei Santi Mariano e Giacomo). The façade of the church is in Romanesque style, featuring stained glass windows and carvings depicting the baptism of Jesus. The interior of the church is simple in appearance, but this simplicity provides a serene and sacred atmosphere for the believers.
From here, the path is only downhill.
A beautiful spot to peek at is the giant barrel (for the location click here: the largest wine barrel in Europe) – a historic barrel from the 16th century that contained 20,124 liters of wine (387 barrels – a measurement common in the medieval period) and has somehow survived to this day. It is considered the largest barrel in Europe! This barrel is made of oak wood and wood only! Without iron supports or similar components. The barrel is supported by wooden beams that cling to the wall. The barrel now resides in a structure that was previously a wine cellar in the building of the clergy, Palazzo dei Canonici, which has now turned into the Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano) but can be visited through a separate entrance. The size of the barrel, assuming that the wine was shared or sold to the locals, likely indicates the significance of the bishopric in Gubbio.
It’s a great opportunity for a ‘wine barrel 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 and taste a variety of spreads made in the area. What do we recommend? Truffle mushroom spread (recommended shop just after the big square on the left:
For the location click here Shop for truffle mushroom spreads and more).
Continue down the street. If you are a fan of ceramics, you can find amazing ceramic creations at the Baffoni Ceramics studio and maybe even spot an artisan at work
(for the shop location click here Shop and studio for ceramics).
Continuing… finally we arrived at the Fountain of the Madmen.
In truth, this fountain, dating from the 16th century, is named the Fountain of Bargello after the adjacent building, but it has become known as the Fountain of the Madmen due to a custom of running around the fountain three times. However, it’s not enough just to run…. During the run, a local resident from Gubbio (you can try one of the vendors from the nearby shops) must witness the three laps around the fountain and also sprinkle you three times with water from the fountain (similar to the Christian baptism custom). Only then, and only then, can you receive a certificate of insanity (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).
Le’ts continue…
During the tour of the city, you will occasionally see, near the main entrance doors of the houses, also small doors beside them. They are called ‘death doors’. The official reason states that these doors were used as the main entrance to the house while the large door served as an entrance to a shop/studio. So why the death door? Another reason says that through these doors the deceased family members were taken out. After that, they made sure to close the door tightly to tell ‘death’: “You can just leave from here, there’s no way back or entry here.”
Others claim that they indeed served as protection, but for another reason. There are stories about this door being a trick factor. These are low doors, if the city is attacked, the enemy searching for the residents in every house and wanting to enter through the low door discovers, upon entering, a staircase at the end of which the house dwellers are waiting for him with weapons to push him out. They have the height advantage over him.
For whatever reason – some of these doors have 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 entirely, but eventually agreed to approve that they would only be sealed. Nevertheless, in the hearts of some people, the belief still remains.
We continue… 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 are again at the parking area in Piazza dei 40 Martiri.
Recommended Restaurants in Gubbio
23 Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour St, 06024 Gubbio
0039-0753751509
65 Savelli della Porta St, 06024, Gubbio
0039-0753755180
Closed on Tuesdays
