Angular, sober and imposing, Gubbio appears like something out of medieval fresco. Tightly packed grey buildings cluster together on the steep slopes of Monte Ingino in a picturesque jumble of tiled roofs, Gothic towers and 14th-century turrets. There are unforgettable views from Piazza Grande, the town's starkly beautiful central square, and from the open-air funivia (cable car) that glides high above the higgledy-piggledy rooftops.
Set atop a gigantic plug of rock above fields streaked with vines, olive groves and cypress trees, Orvieto is one of Umbria's star attractions. Its medieval centre is a classic of its kind, with weaving lanes, brown stone houses and cobbled piazzas. But what sets the town apart from its medieval neighbours is its breathtaking cathedral, one of Italy's greatest Gothic churches.
These are the top experiences and sights in Gubbio and Orvieto, according to Lonely Planet.
