Once again this week Europa in camping takes you to Italy, discovering a pearl of central Italy, Gubbio. The beautiful medieval town, a treasure trove of history and culture, is known during the Christmas holiday season for a very special record, its amazing World’s Largest Christmas Tree, sanctioned by the Guinness World Record in 1991 and since then the only tree that can boast of such a title.
It is thanks to its 800-meter height (and a 450-meter base) that follows the slopes of Mount Ingino, behind the city, and to the myriad of lights that compose it (which can even be adopted in order to contribute to the expense of the electricity needed to operate the tree). The huge, stylized and colorful fir tree hides its “roots” in the walls of the medieval city and reaches with its large star to the basilica of the patron saint, St. Ubaldo, located at the top of the mountain.
A real Christmas workhorse, but not the only attraction to see in the city and surrounding area. Take advantage of this for a tour of the historic center: Piazza della Signoria and its beauties, the Palazzo dei Consoli, the Ducal Palace, the Duomo, Piazza Grande where the Town Hall is located and many other attractions, and then devote yourself to discovering Christmas Land and its markets, the perfect place for young and old.
Christmas market in Gubbio
The Christmas Market in Gubbio is located in the picturesque Christmas Land, and is the perfect place to find many handcrafted and local products, perfect for Christmas shopping. You’ll be spoiled for choice for your souvenirs, starting with the food and wine offerings that range from the precious white and black truffles, to the grows, similar to flatbreads, unfailing on Gubbio’s tables, and all the wines from the best Umbrian wineries. And for those with a sweet tooth, the unfailing local sweets: the Brustegnolo, made from cornmeal, and the Ganascioni of the Sisters of Saint Lucia.
In the market area you will also find Santa’s Train designed for the little ones, and more: Santa’s sleigh, the Colle Eletto cable car, the Gubbio Express Christmas train, the Great North Pole Ferris Wheel, the Enchanted Carousel and the Artistic Lights that will illuminate Piazza San Giovanni until Epiphany. (Admission hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.-7 p.m.).
Greccio, the nativity scene and markets
Not far from Gubbio, don’t miss Greccio, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, a jewel of the Holy Valley in the province of Rieti, perfect to reach by camper. In this small town (twinned with Bethlehem), the first nativity scene in history was made at the behest of St. Francis of Assisi, back in 1223.
Once again this year, after more than eight hundred years since the First Representation, Greccio is staging one of the most beautiful local and Italian traditions, a real living nativity scene, a spectacle divided into 6 living pictures. To stay on the theme, don’t miss the Nativity Museum and the Artists’ Trail. Finally stop at the ever-present Christmas Markets in the village, where you can find lots of food and wine products, local crafts and the ever-present handmade nativity scenes.
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