The town of
Gubbio in Umbria, Italy, is a must-see for anyone visiting this part of Umbria (Perugia is 45 km away to the SE). Its location on a steep hillside surrounded on the higher levels by alpine forest, is especially charming. Gubbio's historical centre has a good selection of mediaeval, Gothic and Renaissance structures built of gray limestone and has great views over the beautiful countryside. Just outside the town is a Roman amphitheatre, one of several substantial Roman remains in the area.
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| The town of Gubbio in Umbria. |
The main sights of Gubbio include:
- The Roman Theatre dating from the first century BC.
- The Roman Mausoleum.
- The Palazzo dei Consoli (14 C), housing the Eugubine Tablets.
- The Palazzo and Torre Gabrielli.
- The Duomo (Cathedral - alte 12 C) with its striking rose-window.
- The Palazzo Ducale, built starting in 1470, for Federico da Montefeltro.
- The Church of San Francesco (13 C). The frescoes in the left side date from the 15 C.
- The Church of Santa Maria Nuova, a typical Cistercian structure of the 13 C.
- The Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo, with a nave and four aisles, is located outside and above the Gubbio.
Gubbio is famous for a festival known as the
Corsa dei Ceri, a race held annually on 15 May, in which three teams, devoted to Sant'Ubaldo (the patron saint of Gubbio), San Giorgio, and Sant'Antonio, run through crowds of cheering supporters (clad in the distinctive colours of yellow, blue and black, with white trousers and red belts and neckbands), up much of the mountain from the main square in front of the Palazzo dei Consoli to the basilica of Sant'Ubaldo, each team carrying a statue of their saint 4 mm tall and weighing about 280 kg, mounted on a wooden octagonal prism.
The race is one of the best-known folkloric events in Italy.
More about Gubbio and its sights.
