Gubbio: Discover the City’s History and Landscape

Gubbio combines a medieval townscape with archaeological, ecclesiastical and natural history. Known as the “City of Stone,” it is famous for its medieval maze of lanes and narrow streets. If you are considering Gubbio as a destination for a stay, you can easily distinguish its main highlights: in the city, museums, a theater and archaeological sites lead to different chapters of cultural history; to the north, the Gola del Bottaccione defines the landscape. When planning your trip, you can decide whether collections, religious traditions, historic buildings or geology should take center stage for you.

Cultural History in Museums and Archaeological Sites

The Iguvine Tablets consist of seven bronze tablets. Their important text is written in the Umbrian language and provides a comprehensive description of religious rites. In Gubbio, then, you can encounter not just a single inscription, but a coherent record of religious practice. The Museo Diocesano di Gubbio offers a different way to explore the past: it is located in the historic center, in the Palazzo del Capitolo dei Canonici. Its collection includes stone objects from the Roman, Byzantine and early medieval periods, 14th- and 15th-century paintings, as well as ecclesiastical furnishings and liturgical vestments.

On the upper floors of the Palazzo Ducale di Gubbio, a section displays the winning works from the Biennale d’Arte Contemporanea di Gubbio. This complements the ecclesiastical and older collections with contemporary art. The Roman theater also offers its own point of reference in time: construction began in the 1st century BC, and it was completed between 55 and 20 BC. In the largest room of the Antiquarium, a mosaic features a geometric border and depicts Odysseus and Scylla in a scene from Homer’s Odyssey. Those interested in archaeological sites can also find information points and explanatory panels in Guastuglia, making the sites accessible to the public.

Monte Ingino and the Gola del Bottaccione

The “Colle Eletto” cable car connects Gubbio with Monte Ingino and goes as far as the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo. The basilica houses the bronze urn containing the ashes of Gubbio’s patron saint. The Festa dei Ceri also leads there: during the procession, the Ceri are carried through the streets of Gubbio to the basilica on Monte Ingino. The mountain is also characterized by extensive pine forests. At Monte Ingino, religious traditions, an important place in the city and a striking landscape come together.

The Gola del Bottaccione, north of Gubbio between the mountains of Ingino and Foce, offers a different focus. It was shaped by the erosion of the Camignano stream over the past three million years. The gorge can be reached on foot from Gubbio via Porta Metronio. You can also walk along the medieval aqueduct at the gorge. Check trail conditions before setting out, as they may change. Here, the history of the Earth and a structure come together with an opportunity to explore the surrounding area on foot.

For trip planning, this means distinguishing between the cultural focus in Gubbio and exploring the landscape at the Bottaccione. The cultural offerings, in turn, encompass a range of interests: religious heritage, art collections, theater history and archaeological sites. If you are considering a stay in Gubbio, these topics can help you decide what you would like to focus on during your trip.

Discover more destinations: Casacce, Agello, Macchie, Cibottola, Verchiano, Lerchi, Saragano, San Luca

For the main travel overview: Perugia.