Piazza Grande di Gubbio

Piazza Grande is a raised medieval terrace in the centre of Gubbio, built above massive supporting arches. The Palazzo dei Consoli and the unfinished Palazzo del Podestà frame the square, which remains central to the city's civic traditions.

Why it matters

Construction began in 1321 at the meeting point of Gubbio's four quarters, creating a shared civic centre. The suspended platform and its surrounding palaces form one of the most ambitious examples of medieval urban design in Umbria.

What to notice

The terrace opens on one side to views across the countryside. The completed Palazzo dei Consoli faces the unfinished Palazzo del Podestà, whose construction stopped when Gubbio lost its communal autonomy in 1350. The square hosts the raising of the Ceri on 15 May, before the festival race up to the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo.

Context and history

Work on the supporting structures continued for generations and was completed in 1482. Palazzo dei Consoli was built between 1332 and 1349 to a design by Angelo da Orvieto, with contributions from Matteo di Giovannello, known as Gattapone. Since 1909, the palace has housed the Civic Museum and the Eugubine Tables.