Choosing between two towns Assisi or Gubbio

Hi Ellen, We have been to both places and really enjoyed them both. The countryside near Gubbio is gorgeous. We were in a rental car so I wasn't paying attention to what it would be like to bike there, but seemed pretty hilly. Gubbio itself is pretty steep, so you have beautiful vistas from the top. You can take an elevator up the steepest part. There is also a chairlift up to a small church even higher. There are interesting Roman ruins and a small museum at the bottom. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
Teri

Ellen, I love them both! Hard to choose, the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi is beautiful, but if you didn't see it before, perhaps churches aren't your main interest. Gubbio is a little more varied. The basilica of Sant'Ubaldo is at the top of the town's mountain and is reached by chairlift. Both towns have ceramics. The Roman ruins at Gubbio (just below the town) are interesting and in relatively good shape. On the Saint's feast day (May 15) there is a footrace to the top of the mountain by teams of people carrying huge candles. Here's a link: http://www.argoweb.it/gubbio/ceri.uk.html If you go to Assisi, a short distance away is the little town of Spello (about 7 km, I think). To throw another possibility into the mix: Todi. Absolutely charming hill town.

I've stayed in Assisi and visited Gubbio (for the May 15 Festa dei Ceri, which was fantastic). Your decision might depend on your plans for the day. Gubbio might be better for a day of rest, as it wouldn't be mobbed by tourists during the day and I think that would make it more relaxing. If you plan to take a bike trip, then Assisi might be better as there are multiple small interesting towns nearby. My recollection, too, is that the area surrounding Assisi is less hilly than the area surrounding Gubbio, but the entrance to Gubbio is at the bottom of the hill it climbs and you don't have to climb a hill just to reach the town. Sights in Gubbio have been well covered, so I'll only add that it would worthwhile asking about a ceri display or museum. The festival is 700+ years old and they must have some great photos and other artifacts from the past.

Ellen, This information may be too old to be useful, but in 1986 my husband and I visited Assisi and Gubbio. At the time, we far preferred Gubbio because it was quieter,prettier and there were far fewer tourists. Last Oct. we re- visited some of the hill towns and villages in Tuscany ( not where you will be but I use this as an example) and were so disappointed to see that our favorites places ( Todi, for example) were now overrun with tourists, and cheap souvenir shops lined the beautiful old streets winding up to the town plazas. My point is that Assisi may be the more commercial and busier of the two towns and, therefore, you might find Gubbio a more pleasant experience. Also, there often is more excitement in visiting a new place for the first time.
You'll have a wonderful time. Enjoy!

Hi, Ellen: I also have traveled to all the towns mentioned. I really loved Gubbio. This town has so much charm and maybe not so touristy. Spello is another lovely town. It is funny as we are all tourists going to Italy yet want to see towns without a lot of tourists. I don't think that is possible in the
most sought after places in this lovely country!!!!

We have also been to both towns, and Assissi (sp?) seemed much more touristy. And I remember that around Gubbio it is more mountainous - we were in a rental car so it didn't matter and the scenery was beautiful. So it depends on When you are going, how much biking, and whether you want to see all the towns around Assissi too. What a wonderful decision tho - both towns are lovely. Julia