Gubbio
A peaceful day in Gubbio — said by some to be second only to Assisi for St Francis — visiting three special exhibitions about Francis and the wolf, and an 8th-century Franciscan pilgrim church still quietly holding its ground. (3 min read)
After 4 days of trying to get to Gubbio I am finally here.
What a lovely, peaceful place… some say second only to Assisi for Francesco.
Gubbio is the place to which St Francis retreated after surrendering his clothing and his worldly life. But it is most renowned as the place where St Francis brokered a peace deal with a wolf that was attacking its citizens. There are different views about the legend of the wolf but consensus that the story symbolises dialogue, reconciliation and peace.
I had the most lovely time here visiting 3 special exhibitions about St Francis and the wolf and an 8th century pilgrim church (S Maria della Vittoria) in the custody of the Franciscans since 1213. I also visited the Monumental Church of San Francesco built at the end of the 13th century and consecrated in 1315. Outside of this church is the largest and most striking public statues of St Francis and the Wolf (leading this post).
I have separately written about the exhibitions based on the huge, beautiful exhibition catalogue (in Italian only). For now, I have posted a few of my favourite pieces from the exhibitions and some of the public art about the story of St Francis and the wolf.
TRAVELLING TO GUBBIO BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Gubbio is located about 55km from Assisi. It takes about 45 minutes by taxi from the Assisi train station direct to the Monumental Church of San Francesco in Gubbio. However, I travelled by train from Assisi to Perugia (20 minutes), walked to the Fontivegge Bus Station (this should have taken 3 minutes but actually took 15 minutes because it is not well signed), and then caught the E001 bus to Gubbio (exiting at Pl Martiri) (90 minutes). I returned by the same route.
© Paul McCarthy & Iluminar.au
