This medieval Umbrian hill town has steep cobblestone streets leading to the 14th-century Palazzo dei Consoli. Local artisans continue the town's centuries-old pottery traditions.
Gubbio sits on the slopes of Mount Ingino in northeastern Umbria, its grey stone buildings and Gothic architecture dating back to medieval times. You can walk through the 14th-century Palazzo dei Consoli, explore the Roman Theater from the 1st century BC, or take a cable car to the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo. Each May, the ancient Corsa dei Ceri festival fills the streets with locals racing through town carrying massive wooden structures topped with saints' statues.
Getting Around the Medieval Streets
A system of free public elevators helps you move between the three main terraces of Gubbio. As you walk the sloping pathways, you'll pass grey stone buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries, built when merchant families lived here. Each terrace gives you a different view of the Umbrian countryside, with stone stairways and small squares connecting the levels.
The Palazzo dei Consoli and Civic Museum
The Gothic Palazzo dei Consoli stands in the center of Piazza Grande, above the lower town. The Civic Museum inside spans five floors, with exhibits ranging from prehistoric artifacts to medieval art. The main attraction is the collection of Iguvine Tablets - seven bronze plates from the 3rd century BC with the largest surviving text in the ancient Umbrian language. The 14th-century palace had advanced engineering for its time, including running water and toilets.
The Ancient Roman Theater
The Roman theater at the foot of town dates to the 1st century BC and could hold 6,000 people. With its 70-meter diameter, it was the second-largest theater in the Roman Empire. You can still see the original limestone seating areas and remains of mosaic decorations. In summer, the theater becomes an open-air venue for evening performances.
The Corsa dei Ceri Festival
On May 15th each year, three teams race through Gubbio's streets carrying wooden "candles" topped with statues of saints. The yellow team carries Saint Ubaldo, the blue team Saint Giorgio, and the black team Saint Antonio. The race starts in Piazza Grande and climbs to the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo on Mount Ingino. Thousands of spectators line the narrow streets to watch this 800-year-old tradition.
Local Food and Truffle Tradition
Restaurants throughout Gubbio serve pasta with black and white truffles found in the surrounding mountains. Try the local wild boar stew or the traditional stone-baked flatbread. Many restaurants in the medieval center have dining rooms in old stone cellars or terraces that look out over the valley.
Mount Ingino and the Basilica
A cable car takes you up Mount Ingino in two-person cages to reach the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo. Inside the basilica, you'll find five naves with stained glass windows depicting Saint Ubaldo's life, and the saint's preserved body in a bronze urn. From December to January, the mountain slope becomes the setting for an enormous Christmas tree made of lights, visible from across the valley.
