You set out from the centre of the quiet town of Pietralunga on a relatively short and not especially difficult ride, great for recovering from the previous day’s strenuous efforts, especially considering the hard work that awaits you tomorrow! There are only two difficult stretches to overcome on the Pietralunga – Gubbio road. One is a gradual 3 km climb right after leaving Pietralunga and the other is 12 km further on, a very steep ascent that is less than a kilometre long. The rest of the route is over paved roads with very little traffic surrounded by verdant nature along the foot of the Apennines.
When you get to Mocaiana turn left and then walk alongside your bike until you rejoin the main road, then follow it all the way into the heart of Gubbio, which you can already admire from afar long before you arrive. Once you have passed the ancient Roman amphitheatre you will soon reach the main Piazza Quaranta Martiri, which is home to the old Church of St Francis, the end destination of this leg of the journey. From here you can reach the higher centre of town either on foot or your bike to admire the setting of medieval splendour, the magnificent architecture of buildings like the Palazzo dei Consoli, the town’s symbol and home to the Pinoteca picture gallery and the Archaeological museum, Palazzo Beni, Palazzo del Bargello and its famous fountain, and the Palazzo of the Capitano del Popolo. Gubbio was the site of an important episode in the life of St Francis. It was just outside of town, some scholars believe, where the first Franciscan convent was built and where the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria now stands, that Francis encountered and spoke with the wolf.