Gubbio Attractions

The medieval Old Town of Gubbio boasts some mansions, narrow lanes (such as Via Galeotti), steep flights of steps and many beautiful stone houses. A number of these old houses have "doors of the dead", a second small door near the main door, said to have been used for the removal of the dead.

From the Piazza della Signoria in Gubbio the busy Via dei Consoli, with its many beautiful old houses and numerous small pottery studios and souvenir shops, leads to the northwestern Old Town with its narrow lanes. On Largo Bargello, with its Iguvine fountain, the Fontana dei Matti, stands the Gothic Palazzo del Bargello (early 14th century). At the end of the street is the church of San Domenico (consecrated 1278; 15th century frescoes).

Above the Piazza della Signoria in Gubbio, can be seen the Gothic Palazzo Ducale, built 1471-74 on the model of the Ducal Palace in Urbino. Note the grand courtyard. From the small gardens there is a magnificent view over the Old Town. Opposite, partly built into the hillside, stands the 13th century cathedral, with older sculptures on the facade. Inside are 16th century altarpieces. There is a small museum in the former canon's house.

Monte Cucco, east of Gubbio (approach by main roads 298 and 3), is 1,566m/5,140ft high, making it the highest peak in the Umbrian Apennines and a favorite beauty spot. On its eastern slope, at an altitude of 1,390m/4,562ft, lies the Grotta del Monte Cucco, one of Italy's largest karst caves with some magnificent dripstone formations.

The Roman theater in Gubbio, which seated about 600 spectators, and the mausoleum lie outside the medieval center.

The tour of Gubbio begins at the large mendicant church on the Piazza Quaranta Martiri (mainly 13th century). The campanile is 15th century; inside the church is a fresco cycle by O. Nelli (c.1410).

From the cathedral a steep street leads up to the monastery of Sant'Ubaldo (820m/2,690ft), on the slopes of Monte Ingino (alt. 906m/2,973ft; cable railroad). From the monastery the mountain peak can be climbed in 20 minutes (fine view).

The pretty Via XX Settembre in Gubbio leads to the southeast of the town, where the church of Santa Maria Nuova (14th century) boasts a major fresco, the "Madonna del Belvedere", by Ottaviano Nelli (1403). Other frescoes by Nelli can be seen in the church of Sant'Agostino, to the southeast outside the Porta Romana town gate.

The flea market, Via Baldassini, is held on the second Sunday of each month.