If you drive through Umbria, venture out of the tourist beaten path and stop at hidden Gubbio – a small ancient marvel, well preserved over the centuries with numerous monuments still witnessing the glorious past.
I would not have discovered it if I had not mentioned my upcoming trip to Perugia to my Italian colleague Andrea, who not only hinted a visit to Gubbio, but actually mentioned that it is like a revelation.
Could not be more true.
Huddled in forest covered hills and surrounded by typical for the region green fields, the city is so layered as if creeping uphill, terraces, narrow streets and passages merging in a maze to take you imperceptibly back in the past. Once you reach the main square, you find yourself in front of Palazzo dei Consoli. This imposing structure is a legacy from florishing medieval civilization, a testimony of the rapid development of the area in the 13th to 15th centuries. The Civic Museum housed inside is worth your time, especially stop to admire the bronze “Eugubine Tablets” written in the Umbrian language from 3rd–1st century BC.
Within the medieval ramparts, this is a living city, inhabited by its local residents with their daily life and errands. This authentic atmosphere adds to the timeless feeling and mysterious medieval charm.
Just below the ramparts, you can find the ruins if a small Roman amphitheatre, another testimonial to Gubbio’s long history and past.
