Discover Italy: Great Travel Tips - Scenic Drives - Motorcycle Tours - Art Cities - Food & Wine

Perugia, the capital of the green region of Umbria, is located on an acropolis 450 meters above sea level at the very heart of Italy, halfway between Florence and Rome, and surrounded by the gentle Umbrian hills. The city is rich in art and history, it boasts beautiful Medieval buildings and monuments, romantic narrow alleys, squares of ancient charm and some view points with breathtaking views over the peaceful landscapes.

Thanks to its convenient location, the area has been inhabited since the eleventh century B.C., but it started developing about 500-600 years later, when Perugia became first, one of the most important Etruscan sites and then, in 295 B.C., a Roman colony. Also, remarkable its period under the Byzantine rule until the 8th century when Perugia became a territory of Papacy. During the Middle Ages and beyond the city had a busy history.

Today Perugia is a very lively international city, full of young people from all over the world, thanks to its renowned "University for Foreigners of Perugia", where every year many foreigner students have the chance to study in Italy.

The historic center of Perugia is not so large so you can visit it by walk. Start from Piazza IV Novembre (pic n°1), the real cultural hub of the city. This asymmetrical square links the main streets of the city, and it preserves lots of artistic treasures:

- Fontana Maggiore (pic n°1), first of all. Symbol of the city, this fountain was built in 1275 by architects Giovanni and Nicola Pisano and it depicts characters, symbols and the history of the city with statues and tiles.

- Next, to the fountain, you can see Cathedral of San Lorenzo (pic n°3), the main church of Perugia. Although its construction took more than 100 years (from 1345 to 1490), the façade remained incomplete. The 3-nave interior features many decorations and paintings, among which the Deposition by Barocci, but it also preserves the Sacred Ring, namely a relic of the Virgin Mary's wedding ring.

- Still, in the same square, you can also visit the imposing Palazzo dei Priori (pic n°1), a beautiful example of Medieval architecture, built at the end of the thirteenth century. In the past as well as today, it has been serving as the Town Hall, and it is open for visitors to admire some of its precious halls, such as Sala dei Notari and Sala delle Udienze. The palace is also home to Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, founded in 1863, which is the most important museum of the region hosting many masterpieces by Perugino, Pinturicchio, Piero della Francesca, and others.

From here, you can take Corso Vannucci, one of the main shopping streets of the city, and get lost in the maze of Medieval-style pedestrian roads, from the widest to the narrowest ones, until you will get to the beautiful Piazza della Repubblica, and then ahead towards Piazza Italia.

- Here, take some time and visit the impressive Rocca Paolina (pic n°4), an ancient fortification built in the fifteenth century at the request of Pope Paul III. Serving as one of the main symbols of the papal authority, it was demolished around 1860, but you can still visit the walls and the stronghold with Porta Marzia, as well as its impressive undergrounds.

- Next, to the fortification, there is Giardino Carducci, a very nice and peaceful garden that allows visitors to enjoy incredible views over the Umbrian hills, while Corso Cavour is another beautiful street full of shops, restaurants and cafes.