Gubbio

A land of crazy people, home to saints and blessed people. Gubbio is an open-air museum: an enchanting medieval village whose stone heart is full of history, millennial traditions and artistic treasures, that have survived the passing of time. A city famous for truffle and the thousands of Christmas lights that each year decorate the largest and magical Christmas tree in the world, on the slopes of Mount Ingino.

Gubbio is a centre of timeless charm, whose urban layout and architectural masterpieces have been preserved over the centuries, set as precious gems in an unspoiled natural environment. The well-established skills of craftsmen, who are still working materials on the anvil in the workshops today.

The town’s history is closely linked to that of St. Francis, who departed from Assisi and found hospitality from the Spadalonga family. In fact, it is said that, near the church of Vittorina, there was a meeting with a fierce wolf of Gubbio, who became domesticated at the sight of the saint.

But Gubbio is also the city of madness, for the sake of the unpredictable nature of its inhabitants, idealists and dreamers strongly linked to their origins. It is the only place in the world where madness is officially certified with a special license, released only after having run three laps around the Bargello Fountain or the Fountain of the Matthias. In this corner of the world, legendary stories follow almost everywhere. At Corso Garibaldi, for example, under the foot of the statue of Sant'Ubaldo, a small iron ring was inserted, which is said to help to realise the wishes of the visitors.

Its pulsating heart is the scenic and panoramic Grand Square, designed as a huge roof terrace overlooking the Umbrian countryside, rich in tourists and musicians.

At an architectural level the wall from the 1200’s stands out for its great visual impact, with its six doors that retain fragments of decorations, coats of arms, and some ancient woodwork. Among the precious monuments are the Palazzo dei Consoli in Gothic style - completed by 1340, and that today houses the municipal museum, the "campanone" and the seven "Eugubine Tables", the unfinished Palazzo del Podestà, the Ducal Palace and the church of St. Francis with frescoes by Nelli. Outside the ancient walls stands the Roman Theatre, dating from the first century BC. and a stage for classical performances during the summer.

Almost at the top of Monte Ingino, reachable by a cable car, there is the basilica of Sant'Ubaldo. Inside  is preserved the incorruptible body of the patron saint of the city and the candlesticks used for the traditional Corsa dei Ceri, an extraordinary expression of unparalleled heritage of medieval folklore that makes this part of Italy attract thousands of spectators on May 15th  of every year.