Christmas Markets in Gubbio

Gubbio is one of Umbria's oldest and best-preserved medieval towns, with roots stretching back to the Umbri people of pre-Roman Italy. The Eugubine Tablets, discovered here in the fifteenth century, remain among the most important surviving documents of ancient Italic civilization. Under medieval rule, Gubbio flourished as an independent commune before passing to the Montefeltro family of Urbino, who left a lasting architectural and cultural imprint on the region. The town's steep stone streets, towers, and civic palaces have changed remarkably little over the centuries, giving Gubbio an atmosphere of genuine antiquity.

Gubbio is perhaps most famous in Italy for its extraordinary Christmas illumination — the hillside of Monte Ingino is outlined each December with thousands of lights arranged in the shape of a massive Christmas tree, a tradition recognized by Guinness World Records. This spectacle, organized by local volunteers since the early 1980s, has become a defining symbol of the town's festive season and draws visitors from across Italy and beyond. The illumination is switched on in early December and remains lit through Epiphany.