Gubbio occupies a major role in the history of the region, in a sense you can say that if Umbria is the heart of Italy, Gubbio is the heart of Umbria.

The center of the civilization of the Umbrians (Ikuvium), from the 3rd century BC Roman city (Iguvium, then Eugubium) offers up historical memories from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the present day. 

Destroyed by Totila in the 6th century and rebuilt, will again be destroyed by the Magyars and Avars in 917. 
Sold to the Church with donations of Pepin the Short and Charlemagne, the city, while subject to the bishops, became a free town of the Ghibellines and in the 11th century began a policy of expansion. Destroyed Luceoli, located on the Via Flaminia near present Cantiano, incorporated its vast territory and in a strategic location founded Pergola. The foundation of Pergola was considered dangerous from the nearby town of Cagli, which already felt threatened by Gubbio, as Gubbio had obtained the concession on the imperial and strategic castle of Cantiano, fact checking, easily, links on the Via Flaminia; they were born a series of clashes that involved, by virtue of alliances promoted by Cagli, even Perugia. The constant border wars brought Gubbio to have more than a hundred castles under his rule, but at the same time, to enter into strong conflict with Perugia, alarmed by its expansionism. 
Around the 11th century Gubbio had already achieved such power to send a thousand men in the First Crusade (1096-99). 

Arose in this period (around 1085) Ubaldo Baldassini, in 1129 bishop of Gubbio, charismatic man of the church, leader of the resistance in 1151 and of the victorious counter-offensive against 11 enemy cities of Umbria and the Marches (led by Perugia) against Gubbio, negotiator in 1154 with Frederick Barbarossa of the surrender of the city so as to avoid destruction, died May 16, 1160 and was proclaimed a saint in 1192. 

Free commune in 12th-14th centuries, after various vicissitudes, and the lordship of Gabrielli, was conquered in 1354 by Cardinal Albornoz. Gubbio rebelled in 1376 the power of the Church, and gave himself up to the Montefeltro (15th century), following the political fortunes of the Duchy of Urbino until 1508 when they were replaced, in the domain of the city, by Della Rovere, who kept it until 1631 when with the death of Francesco Maria II Della Rovere, the last heir of the family, all the assets and all the estates passed, as a bequest, the papal States until 1860, the year of the unification of Italy. 

Art center, gave birth to painters like Ottaviano Nelli and architects such as Gattapone, the miniaturist Oderisi and Mastro Giorgio Andreoli (16th century), An artist famous for producing beautiful ceramics, who invented the particular processing "reverb "(metallic sheen of the enamel, ruby-red), whose secret was never discovered. 

The architectural aspect today is that of a medieval city, entirely preserved. Main monuments: the Gothic cathedral (13th century, facade restored in 16th century); other churches of the 13th century, including St. Peter, St. Julian's, St. Francis and St. Mary of the Laity (or the Brotherhood of the Whites); splendid palaces, including the Palazzo Ducale (15th century), built by Federico of Montefeltro, and the imposing Palazzo dei Consoli, by Angelo da Orvieto, which today hosts the Civic Museum. In the museum are preserved, among other things, the Tables of Gubbio (or Iguvine; 3rd-1st century BC), the most famous ancient Italic epigraphic document: seven bronze plates bearing inscriptions engraved in the Umbrian language but in Etruscan and Latin characters, which are fundamental for the study of the political organization and rituals of the Umbrian civilization.