A Day of History, Views and Taste

Leave your car nearby and don't miss the opportunity to climb back up into the historical centre by passing through this imposing 15th century tower, which encloses the very wide snail-shaped staircase, symbol of Urbino, which allowed the Duke of Urbino to reach the Ducal Palace even on horseback.
A true passage in history.
If you don't want to struggle, there is also the possibility of going up by lift (€0.50).
Once you reach the top, at the exit of the ramp, you will immediately see the imposing Palazzo Ducale, which you will enter in a moment.

Before visiting the Ducal Palace, linger a few minutes under the rear façade, known as the "façade of the Torricini" due to the presence of two towers flanking the tall and narrow wall.
Here you can verify for yourself the singularity of an amusing acoustic phenomenon: if you are in company, stand on one of the two sides of the semicircular wall, with your back to your companion, who will stand in turn on the opposite side. If one of you whispers, the other will hear despite the distance! It is said that this system was devised by the guards, who communicated in this way in secret from them (and that it was rediscovered by chance by some women in Urbino, who were gossiping about each other on opposite sides of the wall!).
At this point you are ready to enter the Ducal Palace, a true masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance.
It houses the National Gallery of the Marche and it is absolutely worth taking the time to lose yourself among these jewels of many illustrious artists, to fully immerse yourself in the history of Italian art, in what is a must-see of the ''ideal city''.
The Palazzo is closed on Mondays.
For information on tickets and opening hours, please visit website.

Leave Urbino behind, get into your car and cross the border between the Marche and Umbria until you reach Gubbio, your next destination on the way.
Leave your car in this paid car park near the remains of a Roman theatre and walk towards the historic centre of the town, voted "most beautiful medieval city".

Your first stop in Gubbio can only be the Bargello Fountain, better known as the "Fountain of Madmen": according to an ancient tradition, in fact, the city has always been home to particularly playful and eccentric people, hence the nickname 'madmen'.
According to a now widespread custom, anyone visiting the city, by running three laps around the fountain, can obtain a "Madman's License". But this is only if it is done in the presence of a Gubbio citizen, who at the end of the three laps "baptises" each applicant with water from the same fountain and applies to the Associazione Maggio Eugubino for the licence, the only original one (otherwise you can also buy it in the shops around the fountain, but this is the official one and proves that you really are..."crazy"!).
A nice and fun way to immediately get in touch with the culture and cheerful atmosphere of the village!

After becoming an honorary "madman" of the city of Gubbio, all you have to do is celebrate this achievement by sitting down at the table.
A meal in this restaurant will satisfy all your desires: platters of meat and truffle specialities, local cheeses and the "Umbrian crescia" (so you can compare it with the crescia you tried the day before in Marche region), all accompanied by Umbrian wines and Gubbio craft beer.
The choice is wide and, whether you want to try several courses or prefer a quick lunch, you will leave satisfied.
Remember that the restaurant is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Exit the restaurant and, as the icing on the cake, enjoy the spectacular view of the valley from Piazza Grande.
A favourite place for the citizens of Gubbio and the centre of many civil and religious events, this is an admirable example of a "hanging piazza": in fact, it was decided to build this public and gathering place in a position close to all the quarters, as a sign of balance and respect for the different souls of the city, by having it resting on arches, which can be seen from lower Gubbio.
In the square, you can also admire the imposing Palazzo dei Consoli, a visible sign of the power of 14th-century Gubbio.
Historical curiosity about the Palace: it was the first Italian palace to have running water, plumbing and toilets.

With a pleasant walk through the centre of Gubbio, go now to the cable car station, inaugurated in 1960 to facilitate citizens and tourists in visiting the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo, located on Monte Ingino.
Buy your ticket (6€ per person return) and get ready to fly over the city in a short but exciting suspended ride.
For more information on the opening hours of the cable car visit website.
For the more active, the Basilica can also be reached on foot in about 40 minutes.

The cable car will leave you at the foot of the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo, a must for anyone wanting to get in touch with the soul of this city.
The Basilica in fact houses the urn containing the uncorrupted body of Blessed Ubaldo, patron saint of Gubbio, as well as the famous candles: gigantic wooden artefacts that are brought to Gubbio every year on 15 May and then brought back to the Basilica in the traditional and picturesque race.
Breathe in this spiritual atmosphere and take the feeling with you as you look down on the "grey city" (for its chromatic harmony) from above.

Board the cable car again and enjoy the descent to the city center.

Retrieve your car and drive to your next destination.

Enjoy driving on this state road through the countryside between Umbria and Tuscany and set out to discover a truly picturesque but often underestimated place: Cortona, the village that inspired Frances Mayes' novel "Under the Tuscan sun".
Start your visit directly from Piazza Garibaldi, Cortona's Belvedere area: from here you can admire Lake Trasimeno and the summit of Mount Amiata.

Reach the nearby Piazza della Repubblica, the village's most picturesque square. The meeting point of the ancient cardo and decumanus, this was once the site of the Roman Forum.
Here you can admire some of Cortona's most important historic buildings, such as the Palazzo Comunale, characterized by its grand entrance staircase and clock tower, and the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo, also called Palazzo Passerini.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, with its Etruscan/Roman-style façade, is worth a visit as it houses numerous works of pictorial art inside, so much so that it is considered a sort of picture gallery of sacred art.
Fun fact: it is not actually a true cathedral, but a co-cathedral, i.e. a smaller cathedral than another one in the same diocese, in this case that of Arezzo.

The next natural stop on your route is precisely Arezzo, in a succession of hilly Tuscan landscapes and historical-artistic references.
Leave your car in this convenient car park outside the city, connected to the centre by escalators that will take you directly to Piazza del Duomo.

Take your first evening stroll through the centre of Arezzo, city with deep cultural roots (think of the traces left by Petrarch and Piero della Francesca, among others).
Walk past the majestic Cathedral until you reach this restaurant, where you can refresh yourself after a busy day.
The journey also passes through taste, and here you can really travel with palate, sight and smell through the most sincere and tasty Tuscan culinary tradition.
Don't miss the Florentine tripe, or indulge in a taste of other typical dishes based on mushrooms or inland products (mostly meat), but if you prefer fish you will find several tasty options too.
The restaurant is open from Friday to Sunday for lunch (12:00 pm - 3:00 pm) and dinner (6:30 pm - 11:00 pm), on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only for dinner and it is closed on Mondays.

After dinner, take a nice walk to this elegant B&B in the historical centre of Arezzo, located in a charming old 19th-century building.
In the morning, a typical Italian breakfast awaits you in the cosy dining room; you can also request a savoury breakfast by reservation.