Saturday 16th Oct... Gubbio

We decide to venture further afield again and  take ourselves off over the mountain to Gubbio. This is not a hill top town but an "almost hill top town", he he. It's nestled back into the mountain and although there are lots of steps again not so many as other towns we have visited. No wonder there are a lot of  smaller cars in this area as the "road" you can see here is in fact a road, we saw someone drive over this bridge !

The locals park their cars behind doors such as these. Yesterday there was a car parked in the cloister of the church ! This town was slightly different form others we have vsited as it has a dry river bed/storm drain through the town ready for the spring flood.

Palazzo del Podesta in the Piazza Grande.

Palace of the Consuls in Piazza Grande

Church of San Giovanni with the Palazzo in the background

A cable car or should I say "cage" (a two person standing room only open metal cage!) links the town with Monte Ingino and the Basilica of Santa Ubablo which is approx 3000 feet above sea level. We would have loved to do this but the top was in deep cloud so maybe we may revisit as there are supposed to be unforgettable views of the Apennines of Umbria and the Marches.

A more unusual bell tower on our route back to villa.
It was a bit of a grey today, but still nice and warm, such a shame as the drive over the mountain was fabulous with what would have been great views if  the day had been a clear one. Ok we have had "On a Clear Day" so today it has to be "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash
We tested our skills on the way home and used a 24 hour unmanned self service petrol station !! It seems shops etc close on Saturdays as well as Sundays and good for them. We managed not to loose our cash and topped up with fuel !!
A good round trip of 90 miles and a good look at more of the lovely Umbrian counrtyside.
We spent the later afternoon and very pleasant evening relaxing and re-learning how to play Cribbage listening to Sounds of the Sixties on the i-player, is that retro or what ????