sawdays.co.uk/historical-walking-holidays-in-italy

Route 1. Gubbio City TourPiazzas • Medieval history • Truffles

Distance: 5 km | Time: 3-5 hrsDifficulty: Easy | Season: All year round

If you like luscious countryside peppered with dense pockets of

forest and gorgeous medieval towns then visit Umbria. In particular,

head for sparsely-populated Gubbio with its 14th and 15th-century

architecture, folklore and frescoes, never-forgotten truffles. Follow

our suggestions for a very easy, self-guided walk through the narrow

cobbled streets which offer plenty of surprises. It’s well worth making

a full day of it rather than whipping through the highlights.

D O N ’ T M I S S . . .

• An exhilarating ride on the Funivia Colle Eletto (think ski lift style metal buckets, but apparently you get picked up and put in by a nice strong man).

• The National Truffle Fair in October/November. • Hover over the city on Piazza Grande, the

‘hanging square’.

Must eat Delicious white truffles – enjoy a fresh plate of fettuccine with intense, flavoursome tartufo bianco grated on top

Must drink Sip on Umbria’s famous reds: Montefalco Rosso DOC or Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

Must stayWe’ve discovered Special Places in the ‘green heart

of Italy’ so settle down in one just a short drive from

Gubbio. From a restored monastery to a transformed old

castle, you’ll feel mellow being looked after beautifully

in the slow countryside where not much has changed for

thousands of years.

ItalianW A L K I N G B R E A K S

Must see

Borgo Di Carpiano, Umbria

Vaccaria, UmbriaCastello Di Petroia, Umbria

sawdays.co.uk/historical-walking-holidays-in-italy

ItalianW A L K I N G B R E A K S

Route 1. Gubbio City TourPiazzas • Medieval history • Truffles

Distance: 5 km | Time: 3-5 hrsDifficulty: Easy | Season: All year round

1. Begin your day bright and early at the Palazzo Bargello. The 14th-

century ‘Fountain of Madmen’ must be circled three times in the

company of a local and then you earn the right to be a ‘madman

of Gubbio’ – you even get a licence. After all that, pop into Palazzo

Bargello and see the large antique crossbow collection.

2. Leave the madmen and walk down Via dei Consoli towards Palazzo

Dei Consoli. This street is full of shops with locally made crafts such

as pottery, leather goods and embroidery.

3. Emerge into the heart of Gubbio: Palazzo dei Consoli. This 14th-

century church housed parliament in the middle ages and is a

masterpiece of medieval architecture. Inside you’ll find the precious

Eugubine Tablets inscribed with ancient runes. Walk along the

‘hanging square’ splayed before the church, and sit for a while above

the city.

4. Stroll to Palazzo Ducale, and explore the Renaissance building and

its peaceful inner courtyard. The structure was designed by Laurana

and was possibly completed by master architect Francesco di Giorgio

Martini in the 15th century.

5. Opposite, lies the miraculously-preserved 12th-century Duomo di

Gubbio with its exterior symbols of saints and colourful frescoes

inside.

6. Climb high in Gubbio for brilliant views or go even higher to the

top of Mount Ingino – for the super fit a 45-minute climb or an

exhilarating ride in the Funivia Colle Eletto and a picnic at the top.

7. Clamber back to the old city and visit Museo Torre di Porta

Romana for an extensive and exquisite collection of ceramics from

prehistoric times to the middle ages.

8. Wander along Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi to see the many stunning

Renaissance facades.

9. Turn into Piazza San Giovanni for a church dating back to the 12th

century with a stunning Romanesque bell tower.

10. Nearby San Francesco is a wonderful brick church that houses

frescoes painted by Nelli.

11. As the sun begins to dip, it’s time to make your way just outside the

city walls to the ruins of the amphitheatre. Sit on a limestone seat

and imagine Romans performing classic masterpieces bathed in the

sun’s soft rays.

sawdays.co.uk/historical-walking-holidays-in-italy

ItalianW A L K I N G B R E A K S

Route 1. Gubbio City TourPiazzas • Medieval history • Truffles

Distance: 5 km | Time: 3-5 hrs | Difficulty: Easy | Season: All year round