Palazzo dei Consoli, Medieval museum in Gubbio, Italy.
Palazzo dei Consoli is a Gothic palace from the 14th century built on an artificial terrace above Gubbio's main square, featuring a tall bell tower and an open loggia. The building now houses a museum spread across several floors with paintings, ceramics, coins, and archaeological objects from the surrounding area.
Construction began in 1332 under the direction of Angelo da Orvieto and Matteo di Giovanello, who designed the building as the seat of Gubbio's governing council. It was built on a specially constructed stone platform to level out the steep hillside terrain of the city.
The museum holds the Iguvine Tablets, seven bronze tablets written in Umbrian and Latin script dating from around the 3rd to 1st century BC, among the oldest surviving texts in Italy. They are the main reason linguists and historians travel to Gubbio from around the world.
The museum covers several floors connected by stairs, so comfortable shoes are a good idea before you start. The loggia at the top offers a wide view over the rooftops of Gubbio, which makes the climb worth the effort.
The building was equipped with a 14th-century plumbing system that carried water up through a network of pipes to feed fountains on the upper floors. This kind of internal water supply was highly unusual for a public building of that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
