Umbria

Gubbio

Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo, via Monte Ingino, 5 – catch the exhilarating chairlift up Mount Ingino – built in the 1500’s and housing the body of the patron saint of Gubbio, Saint Ubaldo (the 12th-century Bishop Ubaldo Baldassini).  Has works dating from the 15th-19th centuries by Mossmeyer, Salvio Salvini, Avanzino Nucci, Pietro Paolo Tamburini, Giovanni Maria Baldassini, Felice Damiani, Camilla Filicchi, Francesco Allegrini and Tommaso Maria Conca.

Duomo di Gubbio, Via Federico da Montefeltro – rose window façade – stark interior with 17th religious paintings by Umbrian artists but unfortunately for me it was not so interesting but pop in to see the altar if you are nearby.  Take the free public lift.

Monument of the 40 Martyrs (Mausoleo dei Quaranta Martiri ) – pays homage to the forty civilians shot by the Germans against a nearby wall in the early morning of June 22nd, 1944 following the shooting of a German medical officer.  The Germans had threatened strict reprisals on the town for any attacks on their troops: 40 citizens for every officer and 20 for every soldier.  Forty cypress trees line the entryway and the interior of the white limestone mausoleum is most moving: forty stone sarcophaghi, each one bearing the name of the victim, date of birth and photo.  A note in the Mausoleo posted by the Associazione Famiglie dei 40 Martiri tells the signficance of this sobering monument: “Let this be a sign of peace and pacification, but only on condition that there is a refusal of hatred and the oppression of war.”

Mount Ingino –  once you have visited the church, take in the great views – pack a picnic for the top and walk down or there is also a little café to indulge in a glass of wine.  In the winter an illuminated Christmas tree is formed on the mountain making it the largest (electronic) Christmas tree in the world.

Palazzo dei Consoli – Piazza Grande – E5 entry or E12 which includes two other sites – this old city hall, the exterior of this Renaissance building like a castle, with great views across the Umbrian countryside, some nice bars in the piazza.  Range of interesting collections including the Eugubine Tablets, beautiful internal fountains and a secret passage.

Palazzo Ducale, Via Federico da Montefeltro – worth a visit to see archaeological findings and excavations in the basement, the inner courtyard, rooms with paintings and first and foremost the 15thc Studiolo (reproduction as the original is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York).  A little start as interior furnishings have been sold off. Lovely views over the rooftops of Gubbio.  Can go around with a guide or explore by yourself.

Roman Theatre – ancient open air theater built in the 1st century BC using square blocks of local limestone and traces of mosaic decoration have been found.  Originally, the diameter of the cavea was 70 metres, and could house up to 6,000 spectators, today, for me, it was not so interesting having seen fully intact versions.

Town Centre – take time just to explore this medieval gorgeousness, find a nice deli to pack a picnic and head up Mount Ingino

 

Orvieto

Duomo (Cathedral) – Work began on this absolutely stunning cathedral in 1290 when Pope Nicholas IV blessed the first stone and lasted 300 years with many different architects and sculptors adding their designs (Lorenzo Maitani 1310, Andrea Pisano 1347, Andrea di Cione 1358, Antonion Federighi 1451, Michele Sanmicheli de Verona 1514, Simone Mosca 1549, Francesco Mosca 1552, Raffaello da Montelupo 1555, Ippolito Scalza 1567, Francesco Scalza 1619).  The beautiful gold mosaic frescoes and rose window from the 13th & 14th centuries on the outside as well as bronze statues.  The baptismal font dates from 1390 and if you think the outside is gorgeous you will be blown away by the stunning interior with intricately painted ceilings, enamels, frescoes and sculptures dating from the 14th-18th centuries, by Gentile da Fabiano, Ugolino di Prete Ilario da Orvieto, Matteo di Ugolino da Bologna, Angelo Comacchini, Ugolino di Vieri, Lippo Memmi, Raffaello da Montelupo, Fabiano Toti, Giovanni da Fissile, Luca Signorelli of Cortona, Domenico Maria Muratorai and Francesco Mochi.  Relics from the cathedral are also in the Museum dell’Opera.

Pozzo di San Patrizio (Saint Patrick’s Well), Viale San Gallo – a historic well built by architect-engineer Antonio da Sangallo the Younger of Florence, between 1527 and 1537.  The name was inspired by medieval legends that St. Patrick’s Purgatory in Ireland gave access down to Purgatory, indicating something very deep.  The central well shaft is surrounded by two spiral ramps in a double helix which allowed mules to carry empty and full water vessels separately in downward and upward directions without obstruction and now provides the perfect opportunity for tourists to explore.  The cylindrical well is 53.15 metres (174.4 ft) deep with a base diameter of 13 metres (43 ft). There are 248 steps and 70 windows provide light.

Underground City, Piazza del Duomo – an ancient city labyrinth of grottoes is hidden carved into the eery quiet darkness of the soft volcanic rock with panoramic openings, subdivided into over 1200 grottoes, tunnels, wells,  reservoirs and an entire olive oil press.  Always an urban legend, it was discovered in the 1970’s when there was a large landslide – it was amazing to see so cannot even begin to imagine how amazed the original explorers were when lowering themselves down.  Tours 4 times a day E6