UMBRIAN MADNESS

If you’re mad as a hatter this trip is for you! Don’t miss the chance to discover Italy’s città dei matti on this full day excursion.

Meet your private driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to Gubbio. Here your guide will be waiting ready to lead you on an unforgettable trail through the streets and squares of a crazy little town, whose citizens are traditionally known for their eccentricities and unpredictable nature.

Clinging to the steep slopes of Mount Ingino, Gubbio seems to have just popped out of a medieval fresco. Thirteenth and fourteenth century walls protect a marvellously well-preserved historic centre crossed by narrow alleys and punctuated with stone buildings, oozing old-world charm and character. Gubbio owes its distinctive atmosphere and timeless, magical appeal not only to its original architecture but also to the traditions and crafts practised by its inhabitants. Workshops selling exquisitely handmade artefacts in all sorts of different media, including ceramic, wood, leather and wrought iron, attest to the know-how of local artisans and their desire to revive age-old techniques passed down through generations. Gubbio is also the site of one of Italy’s oldest folklore festivals which has been celebrated here since 1160, the year of patron Saint Ubaldo’s death. Every year on May 15th thousands of people gather in Piazza Grande to take part in the mystical Race of the Ceri, during which bearers run through the streets of Gubbio and up Mount Ingino carrying three statues featuring Saint Ubaldo, Saint George and Saint Anthony.

Gubbio’s fame is inextricably linked to a miraculous event. Indeed, according to legend, the town was once threatened by a ferocious wolf who used to attack the villagers and kill their livestock. It was thanks to Saint Francis’ ability to soothe and speak to animals that the town was eventually freed from the terror of this ferocious beast. The Church of San Francesco, where your tour begins, was built shortly after Saint Francis’ death, in the mid-1200s, as a tribute to his courage and heroic intervention. Inside, precious 13th to 15th century frescoes representing scenes from the life of the Virgin, Saint Francis, the Evangelists and Jesus enthroned decorate the apses.

Make your way through Gubbio’s maze of streets and stairways, pausing to admire the 17th century Logge dei Tiratori once used by wool workers to stretch and dry fabrics, and reach the town’s beating heart, Piazza Grande. The square is dominated by the Gothic-style Palazzo dei Consoli and Palazzo Pretorio and has been at the core of Gubbio’s political and social life for seven hundred years. Designed as a suspended panoramic terrace, the piazza rests on majestic arches and is considered to be among the most ambitious and inventive urban enterprises of the Middle Ages. From here the views of the town below and the gently rolling Umbrian countryside are truly breathtaking.

Just a few steps away you will find Gubbio’s most intriguing landmark, the Fountain of Mad Men. Run around it three times saying “I am crazy”. For just a few Euro, those willing to take away a bizarre souvenir may receive an official document confirming their insanity!

Next, enjoy the views of Gubbio’s rooftops and the surrounding landscape on a cable car ride up to the summit of Mount Ingino, where you will reach the last stop on your tour. Here, you will visit the 16th century Church of Saint Ubaldo, dedicated to Gubbio’s patron saint, whose earthly remains are kept safely in an urn on the main altar. Paintings dated to the 1500s and 1600s and the wooden Ceri structures used during the annual festivity of the Race are also among the church’s treasures.

Following the visit, ride back down to the town centre for some free time for lunch. In the early afternoon your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation.