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If there was one region of Italy I could go back to and explore more of, it would be Umbria. There is just too much to see in this region on a short trip! The Italian countryside is filled with so many beautiful old towns and cities, and each have their own unique qualities about them.
Our favorite Umbrian city that we visited was Gubbio, which was a little over a half hour drive from where we were staying in Umbertide at Castello Valenzino. Visiting a real medieval city was just plain cool!
We visited on a chilly, fall day in November. The city was relatively quiet, being the off season and all, which made exploring so much easier without having to navigate our way through crowds.
Where to Park
Parking is important to research when you are visiting these old towns, as many of them do not allow cars in certain zones. In fact, some cities will even issue fines if you are caught driving on the wrong streets. I wouldn’t even want to attempt driving in these towns anyway! The streets are so narrow and it would be very easy to get lost.
We like to consider two main things when looking for parking: accessibility and price. I did a little research beforehand and found that a great spot to park was outside the city walls in the dirt/gravel lot at the Roman Theater (Teatro Romano). Parking there is free! And it is so easy – right off the main road when you are approaching Gubbio.
If you must get as close a possible, there are other parking areas within the city walls.
What We Ate in Gubbio
Our foodie adventures weren’t super exciting in Gubbio, but we did find a little café to pop into for a quick bite. At Cuor di Pizza, we ordered sandwiches made with traditional Gubbian flatbread – vegetarian for me and spicy salami for the husband! It was a simple meal, and enough to keep us fueled for exploring.
Note: Always remember that in Italy, many restaurants and shops close in the afternoons from about 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Make sure you get your tummies filled before then or be prepared to wait until dinnertime.
What to See in Gubbio
Gubbio is not a huge city, but there are plenty of things to keep you busy for several hours.
Palazzo Dei Consoli
The main focal point you see when driving up to the city is Palazzo dei Consoli. This is a must see in Gubbio!
Constructed in the early 1300’s, Palazzo dei Consoli was once the home the town’s government and the site of public meetings. One of the fascinating facts about this building was that they had toilets, with pipes and running water, which was pretty sophisticated for that time period! In present day, it serves as the Civic Museum, for which you can enter for a nominal fee.
Doorways of Gubbio
Be sure to also pay attention to doorways in the city – they are gorgeous wood doors, framed with stone! I could probably make a book just out of all the beautiful doors I photographed in Italy.
Take in the Sweeping Views
Once you are up higher into the city, take a few moments to step to the edges of the walls and take in the views of Gubbio and the countryside. It is simply gorgeous!
Wander Through Ranghiasci Park
This park was one of our favorite places to visit in Gubbio. There were so many paths to take, and we were almost completely alone to explore every twist and turn.
They also have a collection of interesting, modern art placed throughout the park!
Give a guy a dagger in a medieval city, and he will embrace it!
Go Shopping
This is a medieval city, so what better way is there to remember your visit than by picking up some medieval gear our souvenirs!
We ended up purchasing a little dagger to take home (shown in photos above) as it was something that we could easily pack in our luggage. It makes a nice addition to my travel gallery wall at home!
Be on the Lookout for Helpful Signs
One thing we found helpful when walking around Gubbio was the signage for each point of interest in the city. They also noted which direction you would need to go to get there.
As I mentioned above, Gubbio is not a large city so you can definitely cover a lot of ground if you only have an afternoon to spend there!
If you are hopping from town to town in Umbria, definitely put this little gem of a city on your itinerary!
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