Historic rental house in Umbria Italy

The Town of Gualdo Tadino

What to do in Gualdo Tadino

Stroll through old streets that have preserved their intimate character and are enhanced by arches between the houses on either side, by cascades of steps and climbing plants and flowers.

Vicolo dell'Arco

The historic town center has some striking civic and religious buildings. The Town Hall stands on Piazza Martiri della Libertà; as do the 13th century town Tower, the imposing Gothic church of San Francesco (end of the 13th century) and the cathedral: the Basilica of San Benedetto (1251) with its Romanesque-Gothic façade.

Cathedral of San Benedetto

Opposite the cathedral, which has preserved its 13th century facade with a rose window, see an intriguing apothecary shop that is more than a century old and features decorative motifs in the Art Nouveau style.

Stop for a bite to eat or for a glass of wine at a local restaurant or bar, browse in the shops - don't miss the distinctive ruby and gold metallic-colored pottery for which Gualdo Tadino is famous, in the craft shops that still adopt muffle kilns, as well as in the Modern Pottery Museum.

Gualdo Tadino is one of the most important cities of Umbria for the production of pottery, known in the Middle Ages as a center of ceramic ware. With its large number of ceramic companies and the International Competition of Pottery, started and managed by PRO TADINO in 1959, the city has come in contact with many prestigious world institutes in this field.

Discover the exquisite and unique handcrafted jewelry of Elisabetta Lupi, in her little shop across from the Emigration Museum, where you can find information about Italians who emigrated from various regions.

Visit the Rocca Flea, the grand museum fortress housing the Permanent Pottery Fair and paintings by Matteo da Gualdo.

One reaches the Rocca Flea, built in 1242 and recently re-modeled as a museum that celebrates the ceramiche (ceramics) produced in the area, by walking west and then climbing a series of stairs until one finds the Piazza Dante.

Gualdo Tadino is not overloaded with tourists, and the friendly locals will enthusiastically welcome you.

Visit the surrounding countryside, especially the Park of Monte Cucco. (See "Activities" page.)

Gualdo Tadino is also famous for its delicious mineral water, La Rocchetta, which it bottles. You can drink this mineral water at Porta San Donato just by turning on the tap!

Villa Casimiri

Taverna della Porta di San Benedetto

Above and behind the town on the forested slopes of Mount Penna, near the Rocca Flea, there is a road, the via Col di Matino, that most travelers never find, that takes one to a mountain park, sitting against the border of the Marche, where one can hike or picnic. Some of the paths of the park lead to vantage points that offer utterly breathtaking views of the Umbrian countryside below.