Guide to Gubbio

"With its immaculate medieval centre, superb palazzos and peaceful calm, Gubbio is an antique gem hidden into Umbria's plush green hills."

There's something magically medieval about Gubbio. Beautifully preserved as if the passing centuries just haven't happened - it whisks you right out of the modern world into somewhere ancient and timeless. A rhapsody of stone spread in hills north of Perugia, it's the monuments and quiet that do it. Contained within perfect ancient walls, it's often called the City of Silence and boasts some of Italy's most stupendous architecture – so you'll need your guidebook and imagination at the ready. Follow the main, sun-shaded street and it takes you up to the town's architectural centrepiece - the imposing Piazza Grande. Admire its fairytale Palazzo dei Consoli and Renaissance mansions, drinking in the serenity that radiates everywhere. Then, after a battery-charging cappuccino, hotfoot it to other sights. Stroll around hushed churches, the graceful Ducal Palace and then peer at the aeons-old bronze tablets displayed in the museum. Can't get enough of a good thing? Gubbio's an excellent gateway to Umbria's other historic nuggets. Nearby, you'll find Assisi, crowned by its massive Basilica of St. Francis. Make a pilgrimage to stare at its beautiful frescoes by Giotti and tomb of St. Francis in a haunting crypt. Or discover Urbino, an amber-stoned town with a lovely, laid-back atmosphere. And then there's Arezzo, a must-see for its dazzling church-ceiling frescoes. When sightseeing-fatigue sets in, the Umbrian hills offer a great escape. Take a picnic and bask in the cushiony, green hills or beside blue Lake Trasimeno for a day. We guarantee you'll return renewed by the beauty of the landscapes and the warm Umbrian sun.

Find the cheapest late deals to Gubbio leaving in the next six weeks.