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Latest Gubbio hotel reviews
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If you are like me and used to drive in rather wide streets, be aware that Gubbio like the majority of Italian hill towns might scare you to death when you arrive by car. When I arrived in April 2008 and realised that I should drive through this little street in my main photo to get to my hotel’s parking spaces, I preferred to let the car stay on the huge parking at Piazza dei Quaranta Martiri and walk uphill. It was only 5 minutes away, so this did not matter. But later I realised how lucky I was with my hotel so close by and freaked out thinking how it would have been if I would have booked a hotel uphill in the city (with the possibility to load off luggage in front of the entrance)…. The locals resp. Italians in general are very much used to the street systems of their towns, but I could not stop to be very much amazed how they drove through the most narrowest streets. All of the other streets in my photos are for cars….And it is not only that the streets are narrow! Due to the very much hillside location of Gubbio, the pedestrian walkways often have stairs (as in photo 4).
So think twice before you book a hotel, in case you are afraid of these streets. But… there are busses and taxis which can bring you everywhere you want to go. Yes, busses… amazing how they can get around these edges, but they can…
In the meantime my driving skills have very much improved, but I still don’t drive through these streets – why should I? All is walkable, I would never stay anywhere else than at Residenza Via Piccardi (unless I have my own little apartment) and parking at Teatro Romano is nearby and for free. But it is fascinating to observe how wide the streets became in my eyes now, the same streets which I considered narrow two years ago.....
Fun Alternatives: Park the car outside :-)
Free parking, Teatro Romano, on Google Maps.
© Ingrid D., November 2009 (just in case, RickS or others come along and think they can steal texts), update June 2010.
Updated Dec 21, 2010
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Haha, no, of course a market day itself is not a tourist trap, quite the contrary – Italian markets are very much charming! Unless you visit Gubbio by car and park the car at the most convenient parking place at the main entrance to the city at Piazza 40 Martiri and intend to stay in the city at least during a Monday night. Then it will become a trap if you don't look at the signs.... Tuesday is market day and since the market is around Piazza 40 Martiri, all cars have to vanish there by latest Tuesday morning at 5:30 a.m. I was a bit disoriented when I was in Gubbio during my first time (April 2008) and so I only discovered this on Monday evening when I took the Hotel Gattapone’s elevator. There I saw a list of attractions and parking. Oh my, so I knew I had to park the car elsewhere, but with my phobia of the narrow streets I didn’t dare to drive up to the hotel. I asked the reception girl and… she offered me to drive my car up to the hotel. What a sweet and nice gesture!! Next morning though I had to drive through the narrow streets, but I survived this… But this was 2008, by now my driving skills are a bit more advanced, at least when it comes to narrow streets...
Fun Alternatives: Alternatives are abundant. It is only a question of self organisation. There is a huge free parking near the Roman Theatre, Teatro Romano; approx. 10 minutes to walk from Piazza 40 Martiri. And a lot of parking spots around the oval Piazza Quaranta Martiri are available, but only the ones next to the (former) hospital and Chiesa San Francesco are open during the market days. These cost a small charge (ticket machines) but it is only 0,80 Euro per hour (as of June 2010).
Free parking, Teatro Romano, on Google Maps.
Update, December 2010:
In any case: watch for the signs!! When I was in Gubbio in May 2010, I parked the car at the free parking next to Teatro Romano. But when I brought sweet visitors to their car, I saw the sign at the entrance (photo 4) telling that this parking would be closed on May 12 from 7 a.m. to "the end of the works". Haha, no one could tell me when the works ended, but I drove my car elsewhere for about a day, until work was indeed finished....
© Ingrid D., November 2009 (just in case, RickS or others come along and think they can steal texts), update December 2010.
Updated Dec 21, 2010
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2 Reviews and 90 Opinions My wife and I did not stay at the hotel but we did have a great lunch time meal in the hotel's...
1 Review and 99 Opinions When I arrived in Gubbio in April 2008, I was a bit exhausted from the road traffic. It was late...
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Reviews and photos of Gubbio attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Gubbio sightseeing.
Haha, no, of course a market day itself is not a tourist trap, quite the contrary – Italian markets are very much charming! Unless you visit Gubbio by car and...
4 members live in Gubbio
Q: other then spend money on a driver to port me to gubbio, how do i arrive?? I am aware ther are no trains to this town. I also at...
A: You can take a train from Perugia to Fossato di Vico, and then take a bus (18 or so km). Or you can take a bus directly to Gubbio from Perugia Fontivegge railway...
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1
Gubbio: a very proud, very pure Umbrian town
I dedicate this page to my glorious society of balestrieri di Gubbio and to the people of quartiere Sant’Andrea. You all have a special place forever deep in my heart. I would like to thank you for......
2
Gubbio, is one of those glorious towns in Italy that was much more important yesterday than today. It's builded on a hill in Umbria, not too far from Perugia. Founded by the "Umbri", an anchent...
3
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4
A Town with Great Character, History, Traditions
We arrived in Gubbio on Market Day. The square was alive, and we were hungry. A bit later we were enjoying fresh cheese, various salume, and breaded fish such as squid and calamari from the street...
5
One of our favorite Umbrian Towns
What a delight it was exploring this town. We visited on an early May morning, and the town was virtually empty of tourists. What a pleasure this is when compared to the packed tourist traps of...
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