Umbria · PG
Gubbio
A medieval town of grey stone at the foot of Mount Ingino, with the Palazzo dei Consoli and an open-air cable car in little standing baskets.
Photo: trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Gubbio
Cable car up Mount Ingino
Gubbio · All year (shorter hours in winter)
The Race of the Candles
Gubbio · 15 May
Bookable tours in Gubbio
Tickets, guided tours and tastings with free cancellation on most activities, shown live from GetYourGuide.
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Why go solo
Austere and dramatic, with a square hanging over the town and a cable car that makes you feel a little adventurous. Safe and quiet in the evening.
Visiting Gubbio: the guide
Piazza Grande and the Palazzo dei Consoli
Gubbio's heart is a square built on great arches above the town in the 14th century. On one side stands the Palazzo dei Consoli with the Civic Museum and the Eugubine Tablets, seven bronze plates written in the ancient Umbrian language.
The basket cable car
The Colle Eletto cable car climbs Mount Ingino in open baskets where you stand, two at a time: a few slightly thrilling minutes with the town below your feet. At the top is the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo, home of the three Ceri raced up the mountain every 15 May.
What to eat
The signature dish is crescia, a flatbread cooked on a griddle and filled with cured meats or cheese, followed by strangozzi pasta with truffle. Hand-painted lustreware ceramics make a lovely souvenir.
What to see in Gubbio
Piazza Grande and Palazzo dei Consoli
A square suspended over the town and the Civic Museum with the Eugubine Tablets.
Colle Eletto cable car
Open baskets for two up to the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo.
Ducal Palace
The Montefeltro residence, with a copy of Federico's inlaid study.
Via dei Consoli and the Fountain of the Mad
Walk around it three times to earn your 'madman's licence'.
Roman theatre
Below the town, one of the best preserved in the region.
How to get there
There is no station in town: direct buses run from Perugia (about an hour), or take the train to Fossato di Vico and then a bus.
Don't miss
The Christmas tree on Mount Ingino (): Thousands of lights draw a giant tree on the mountainside, traditionally switched on on 7 December.
Day trip or overnight?
Worth a night, especially in December to see the tree lit up.
Plan your visit
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Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Gubbio without a car?
There is no station in town: direct buses run from Perugia (about an hour), or take the train to Fossato di Vico and then a bus.
How much time do you need for Gubbio?
One day. Worth a night, especially in December to see the tree lit up.
When is the best time to visit Gubbio?
The best months are May, June, September, October, December. Don't miss: The Christmas tree on Mount Ingino (undefined).
How do you get to Gubbio without a car?
By direct bus from Perugia, about an hour, or by train to Fossato di Vico and then a bus.
What is the Race of the Candles?
On 15 May three huge wooden 'candles' are carried at a run through Gubbio and up Mount Ingino: one of Italy's most heartfelt festivals.
