Costacciaro
- INFORMATION
- » Costacciaro Local Council
tel. +39 075 9172723
sitoweb - » Tourist Office
tel. +39 075 9220693
info@iat.gubbio.pg.it - » Tourist Info Point
tel. +39 075 9171046
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Situated in the northeastern part of Umbria, Costacciaro is a characteristic village of ancient origin built on the top of a hill in the shadow of Mt. Cucco.
The municipal territory falls with the natural protected area of Mt. Cucco Regional Park, an ideal destination for lovers of outdoor sports (hiking, cave exploring and hang-gliding). Roman in origin, the earliest records of historical importance regarding Costacciaro date from the 13th century, when the old castle on the Flaminian Way below Mt. Cucco was purchased by the Commune of Gubbio, to which it remained tied until being annexed to the Papal States (17th century) and later to the Kingdom of Italy (1860).
Among the monuments to be seen in the historic center is the Church of San Francesco (mid-13th century), with a Romanesque façade built using limestone from Mt. Cucco. Inside the church are frescoes in the style of Matteo da Gualdo and, underneath the high altar, the remains of Blessed Tommaso, a Camaldolite monk and the village’s patron. Also of interest are the four gates that opened through Costacciaro’s circle of walls (Porta dell’Orologio, Porta del Trióne [also known as Porta del Rivellino], Porta di Guerrino Gambucci, and Porta del Monumento [also known as Porta di San Lorenzo]) and the ruins of the fortress and of the walls with the 13th-century Civic Tower.
As regards nature and the landscape, Mt. Cucco Park is interesting not only for its meadows and woods, but above all for its cave system (karstic phenomena), beech woods, gorges, high elevation springs and pure streams. The area is a true paradise for hiking, spelunking and hang-gliding enthusiasts.
There is a School of Speleology at the Centro Nazionale di Speleologia in Costacciaro, located in the former monastery of the Poor Clares, along with a museum of the karst areas of Mt. Cucco.
HOW TO GET THERE
From Rome: A1 motorway, Orte exit. Via Flaminia toward Fano.
From Bologna: A14 motorway, Fano exit. Via Flaminia toward Rome.
From Ancona: SS 76 toward Rome.
From Florence: A1 motorway, Arezzo exit. E45 expressway from Città di Castello, toward Rome, Umbertide sud exit, toward Gubbio.
