Gubbio and surroundings

The territory surrounding the Gubbio basin is defined to the west by the area that slopes down towards the Tiber valley , with a series of modest mountain and hilly reliefs, formed by arenaceous and marly soils. To the east, on the other hand, it is defined by the compact mountain range characterized by steep Apennine limestone reliefs, open to the Adriatic side through the Fossato di Vico pass .
The settlements between Fossato and Scheggia developed according to the axis of the Via Flaminia , while the other centers originated in relation to the numerous abbey and military foundations, particularly important in the area between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Perugia , which throughout the Middle Ages largely inhibited any attempt to expand towards the interior of Gubbio, the only area it granted was the one facing the Adriatic, of strategic importance and therefore the most historically integrated area in the territory.
The excellent conditions of numerous abbeys and castles qualify the three itineraries of scenic and historical interest. Of particular environmental importance is the area of the Monte del Cucco Park , dominated by majestic woods and engraved by deep caves.

The heart of the area is the limestone massif of Mount Cucco, which represents one of the highest elevations in Umbria. The protected natural area extends over 10,000 hectares around the mountain, showing an exceptional richness of vegetation, fauna and geology. The area was enhanced by developing excursion tourism between the springs and the narrow gorges.

Among the main karst phenomena within the area of Monte Cucco, we find the cave of Monte Cucco , which with a depth of 922 meters ranks fifth in the world. It has a very complex structure, characterized by a succession of large rooms of compact limestone and an oblique well. The tourist route has been recently refurbished and made more suitable, and has about 700 meters of natural beauty such as the interesting Margherita room, rich in stalactites and stalagmites and in which fossil remains of vertebrates have been found.