Gubbio: City of Stone between Culture and Mountain Landscapes

Between Medieval Streets and Ancient Testimonies

Gubbio is known as the “City of Stone” and has a medieval labyrinth of lanes and narrow streets. As a result, within a compact historic setting you encounter different periods and themes: religious traditions, Roman architecture, ecclesiastical art and contemporary works. At the same time, the city opens onto the mountain landscape of Monte Ingino and the Gola del Bottaccione. Gubbio is therefore suited to travelers who want to experience culture in connection with landscape and activity.

Cultural History from the Roman Theatre to the Present Day

The Iguvine Tablets consist of seven bronze tablets bearing an important text in the Umbrian language and an extensive description of religious rites. The Roman Theatre of Gubbio provides a different historical focus: construction began in the 1st century BC and was completed between 55 and 20 BC. In the largest room of the Antiquarium, you can see a mosaic with a geometric border and a scene of Odysseus and Scylla from Homer's Odyssey.

The Museo Diocesano di Gubbio is located in the historic center in the Palazzo del Capitolo dei Canonici. The Museo Diocesano di Gubbio displays stone materials from the Roman, Byzantine and early medieval periods, paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries, ecclesiastical furnishings and liturgical vestments. The upper floors of the Palazzo Ducale di Gubbio also house a section featuring the winning works of the Biennale d’Arte Contemporanea di Gubbio. The Guastuglia archaeological site has information points and explanatory panels that make public use of the facilities possible.

Monte Ingino and the Trails to the Gola del Bottaccione

Monte Ingino is rich in extensive pine forests. The “Colle Eletto” Funivia connects Gubbio with Monte Ingino and goes as far as the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo. The Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo houses the bronze urn containing the ashes of Gubbio’s patron saint. During the Festa dei Ceri, the Ceri are carried through the streets of Gubbio on the way to the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo on Monte Ingino.

North of Gubbio lies the Gola del Bottaccione between the Ingino and Foce mountains. The gorge was formed by the erosion caused by the Camignano stream over the course of the last three million years. From Gubbio, it can be reached on foot via the Porta Metronio. The medieval aqueduct at the Gola del Bottaccione can also be explored on foot during a walk. This allows natural-history and historical impressions to be combined in a single visit, without equating the individual sites in terms of their content.

Choose Accommodation to Suit Your Interests

When selecting a hotel or other accommodation in Gubbio, you can take your personal priorities into account: The museums, theatre and medieval streets support a culture-focused stay, while Monte Ingino and the Gola del Bottaccione provide additional opportunities for walks. These places offer different perspectives on Gubbio and help you determine the rhythm of your stay between urban history, religious art, archaeology and landscape.

Further destinations for orientation: Casacce, Ferriera, Chiugiana-La Commenda, San Brizio, Capodacqua, Cannara, Torchiagina and Scopoli.

For the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.