Tours and Excursions
IN GUBBIO AND SURROUNDINGS
Tours and Excursions
We are right in the heart of Italy; millions of words would be needed to tell you all the things you could see in Umbria and the surrounding regions, like Tuscany, Lazio, Marche, and Emilia. That’s why some Lonely Planet e-guides about these areas are available upon request at La Panoramica Gubbio.
Here are just some tips about the places I think you really should visit. Some of the places I’m going to talk about, like Monte Cucco or Castelluccio di Norcia, are perfect to be combined with other amazing activities, such as rafting, horse-riding, biking or adventure parks. Have a look at all the Experiences!
Distances are calculated in regular traffic conditions.
You’ll see most of the tours are suitable for dogs as well; keep in mind, though, that dogs are not allowed inside churches and museums.
43 KM – 55 MINUTES
Perugia
The Umbrian capital is a university city that boasts a great art and cultural heritage, which dates back to the Etruscan era.
What to see: Rocca Paolina, Fontana Maggiore, Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Palazzo dei Priori, National Archeological Museum of Umbria, National Gallery of Umbria.
Here’s a tip: park your car in Piazza Partigiani (paid car park): it’s very convenient for both the city center and Rocca Paolina, a real must-see!
Have a look here to get to know more:
50 KM – 1 HOUR
Assisi
It’s hard to explain how magic Assisi is. Not only is it the birthplace of Saint Francis, but also a wonderful town with a very special atmosphere.
You’ll love to walk along the quaint alleys of this town, listed among UNESCO’s Human Heritages since 2000.
You really should pay a visit to Basilica of San Francesco, where the frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto will give you goosebumps. Also go to Abbey of Santa Chiara and to Rocca Maggiore: this fortification is located on the highest point of the town and boasts a wonderful view over Assisi and the surrounding countryside.
Have a look here to get to know more:
Visit Assisi Site
Umbria Tourism Site
66 km – 1 hour e 05 minutes
Urbino
The city of the Duke of Montefeltro has been one of the most important centers of the Italian Renaissance: its historic center is today a UNESCO’s Human Heritage.
It is an elegant and wonderful city: you’ll hardly find such charm and beauty elsewhere!
I strongly suggest a visit to Palazzo Ducale, home of the National Gallery of Marche with masterpieces by Raffaello, Piero della Francesca, Lotto, Paolo Uccello, and many more.
Dogs are not allowed inside the museums.
Have a look here to get to know more:
vieniaurbino.it website
Marche National Gallery website
Arezzo, Cortona, Lucignano, Montepulciano, Pienza
South of Tuscany Tour
Cortona is 68 km away from our farmstay,
approximately 1 hour 20 minutes by car
Especially if you come from afar, I highly recommend that you dedicate a full day to visit Tuscany, as this region is quite close to where we are.
You may want to choose country roads: you’ll avoid the main roads’ traffic and enjoy a route immersed in an idyllic environment made of hills and vineyards.
When you’re here, ask me to see the Lonely Planet’s e-guide to gather up some more information.
Have a look here to get to know more: Cortona Mia Website
70 km – 55 MINUTES
Bevagna, Spello e
Montefalco
Three cute, small Umbrian towns that can be visited one at a time or all together, as they are quite close to one another.
My favorite one is Bevagna, which was built on the ruins of a Roman theater: it dates back to 220 B.C. and used to seat up to 10.000 people!
The House of Cecco il Mercante is not to be missed! It is an example of the typical house of Bevagna, built on the ruins of the Roman theater.
I also suggest you visiting the Botteghe dei Mestieri (trades workshops), where to put yourselves to the test with several educational workshops: for instance, I learned how to make paper according to a Medieval technique.
79 km – 1 hour and 15 minutes
Rasiglia
Known as the “Town of Streams” (also, a little bit excessively as the Little Venice of Umbria), this town is really worth a visit.
It takes only a few minutes, as the town is tiny: apparently, there are only 40 inhabitants!
Nevertheless, it is a very picturesque village where many people fall in love with the streams and the small waterfalls, the alleys, the stone houses and the old watermill.
If you’re looking an adorable place where to take pictures to send your friends or post on your social accounts, Rasiglia is the place to go!
Have a look here to get to know more: Viaggi e Sorrisi Blog
89 km – 1 hour and 15 minutes
Trasimeno Lake
Trasimeno is the biggest lake of central Italy and has a lot to offer. Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno are super nice towns overlooking the lake; you’ll find lots of tasteful restaurants around there.
You may also get a ferry to Isola Maggiore and Isola Polvese, that are really worth a visit. I’ve been to Isola Maggiore and it’s amazing: as it’s quite small, you can easily walk all around it. Bring your dog with you: they are allowed to be brought on the ferry.
I've been to the first one, it's really nice, small in size, you can walk around practically all of it.
Website trasimenoland.com
86 km – 1 hour and 45 minutes
La Scarzuola
Once upon a time there was a XIII-century convent, built in memory of Saint Francis. Between 1958 and 1978, architect Tommaso Buzzi chose this place to create his own version of the ideal city. This extraordinary place can be understood on several levels of meaning, for instance as an eschatological allegory. Thanks to the Masonic language and the encounter with archetypal figures, it can also be seen as an initiation pathway, which leads the visitors through a Junghian journey towards the discovery of themselves.
Note: this place is wonderful but the owner is said to be a little impatient: get prepared!
You’d better pre-book your visit, which costs €10 per person; dogs are not allowed.
Località Montegiove, Montegabbione TR
87 km – 1 Hour and 20 minutes
Arezzo
Thanks to its amazing Piazza Grande and its trapezoidal, uphill urban plan, Arezzo is a unique city that was also chosen as the the location for La vita è bella by Benigni.
The city is home to some amazing historical buildings, such as Palazzo delle Logge that was built on a project by Giorgio Vasari.
You may want to visit Basilica of San Francesco; here you’llfind “The Legend of the Real Cross” by Piero della Francesca, allegedly recognized as one of the biggest masterpieces
of the Italian art. Also, visit the House-Museum of Giorgio Vasari, which he himself decorated.
10cose-it - Arezzo Website
91 km – 1 hour and 15 minutes
Spoleto
Spoleto is undoubtedly one of the Umbrian cities that everybody should get to know more. It’s worldwide famous for its Festival of the Two Worlds and wonderful Ponte delle Torri.
The Cathderal is amazing and one of the best examples of the Romanic style in Italy; during the Renaissance era, the typical arch colonnades were added.
Don’t miss the Basilica of San Salvatore; it dates back to the Paleochristian time and is a UNESCO’s Heritage since 2011.
Comune di Spoleto Website
92 km – 1 hour and 15 minutes
Todi
Surrounded by Etruscan, Roman and Medieval walls, Todi is a wonderful Medieval town in Umbria.
Piazza del Popolo is known to be among the most beautiful squares in Italy; here are the most important buildings of the town, such as the Cathderal of Santa Maria Annunciata. Just under the square, you can visit the Roman-time cisterns.
Don’t forget to visit the surrounding area too! The countryside is beautiful and scattered with several castles and Mediavel villages, such as Collazzone and San Terenziano.
Website umbriatourism/todi
124 km – 1 hour and 45 minutes
Orvieto
Perched on a tuff hill, Orvieto is a very ancient city, whose origins date back to the Etruscan times. It is famous for its Cathedral with a marvelous Gothic façade.
What’s amazing is that there is like a second city to be visited: it’s undergound and is made of an interesting labyrinth of tunnels dig in the tuff.
You can buy the ticket to the underground city at the Information Point in Piazza del Duomo.
125 km - 1 hour and 40 minutes
Riviera del Conero
Sirolo e Numana
The National Park of Conero is an amazing natural promontory jutting into the sea; the areais undoubtedly one of the most fascinating seaside places of the Adriatic coast.
I think it gets a bit too crowded in summer, but it’s perfect in the low season!
Sirolo is a very nice town: you can have lunch or dinner in its main little square while enjoying a wonderful sea view.
Numana is the ideal place for a winter walk on the beach, even with your dog (in summer, though, dogs are allowed in some beaches only).
conera.it Website
130 km - 1 hour amd 50 minutes
Civita di Bagnoregio
While on a trip to Orvieto and Todi, you could cross the border with Lazio and visit an incredible place that was founded by the Etruscans 25,000 years ago.
Built on a tuff rock that has been eroding year after year, the town has been abandoned in the course of time and this is why is known as “the dying city”. Luckily, tourism has been brought it back to life in the last few years. You can reach the village by crossing a bridge over the countryside; from here, the scenery is something unforgettable.
There are no specific monuments to visit, but you could just wander along the alleys and discover suggestive perspectives.
If you get here late in the morning, look for one of the cute hidden restaurants and enjoy your lunch in the shade of a pergola.
144 km - 1 hour and 45 minutes
Siena
Rich in art and history, Siena is one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany and is known all over the world for its Palio.
Kick off your day in Siena from Piazza del Campo, the famous square where the Palio takes place; here are Palazzo Comunale (home of the Civic Museum) and famous Torre del Mangia; I climbed its 400 steps and I can assure you this is the best lookout of the city!
You can’t miss the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which was built to compete with the Cathedral of Florence; it’s one of the most remarkable examples of the Romanic and Gothic styles.
Here is where you can buy a pass to visit all the city’s most important monuments:
Italy Tickets Website
155km - 2 hours and 20 minutes
Castelluccio di Norcia
This little town was unfortunately badly damaged by the 2016 earthquake; it is located on a hill in National Park of Monti Sibillini, around 1,450 meters above sea level.
The surrounding 15-square-kilometer plateau is known as Piana di Castelluccio and is a unique, magical place. By late May / early June, the lentil cultivations mix with wild poppies, gentianellas, narcissi and violets, turning the area into an ocean of wonderful colors.
If you come over during that time, this is really a must-do visit, which you can combine with many other experiences to be found on this website.
164km - 2 hours and 15 minutes
Firenze
There’s no need for explanations: everybody knows Florence! As the capital of the Italian Renaissance, an entire website would be needed to go in depth of all the things to see and do to explore its history, art and beauty.
You’ll be deeply moved by whatever you’ll see: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery, Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria…
One day is not enough but it’s still worth it: you’ll be able to have a walk around its amazing historic center and let yourself be involved in such a unique atmosphere.
Website firenzeturismo.it
219 km - 2 hours and 40 minutes
Roma
I’ve been to many of the most beautiful cities worldwide: Paris, Rio de Janeiro, London, Stockholm, New York… None of them have the same problems as Rome has, and yet none of them manage to be as half as beautiful as Rome!
Rome may be dirty and chaotic, but it’s simply wonderful and has no rivals. Filled with vestiges from an imperial, huge past, it has got a charming atmosphere you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
If you don’t have all the time this city deserves, plan at least a day trip: from Gubbio, it will takes 2 hours and a half by train.
Website lonely planet Roma
43 km - 45 minutes
Monte Cucco: trekking, caves and many other activities
Shall you consider Monte Cucco as a day-trip or an activity destination? It’s hard to say, as it is perfect for both categories!
It’s a very beautiful place for a day trip, but it also boasts a wide array of activities of all kinds.
The park is ideal to go hiking or trekking along different pathways and itineraries ( see the “Map of the Pathways in the Park of Monte Cucco and surrounding areas”, Monte Meru edition), canyoning, cycling and mountain biking, horse-riding, Nordic walking with an instructor, hang gliding, paragliding, speleology in the caves; in winter, you can cross-country ski or snowshoeing.
The park and all the actrivities Sito del Parco del Monte Cucco
Sito Discover Monte Cucco
The caves and the guided tours: Sito Tramontana Guide
Sito Grotta del Monte Cucco.com
60km - 50 minutes
Frasassi Caves
Among the biggest caves in Europe and the whole world, Frasassi Caves were discovered in 1948 as one of the most fascinanting and magical underground world ever.
The biggest cave is called Abisso Ancona (Ancona Abyss): being 240 meters high, it’s so big it could easily contain the whole Milan Cathedral!
The entire complex of caves is around 30 kilometers long, although not all of it is open to the public. Inside, the temperature is a constant 14 degree, both in summer and winter: get yourself prepared and dress accordingly!
You should book your visit in advance: it lasts 75 minutes and will allow you to explore about one kilometer and a half of the caves
Big- and medium-sized dogs can be left in dedicated boxes for free, while you can carry small-sized dogs can be carried inside the caves, either in your arms or in a pet carrier.
Fort further information: www.frasassi.com
