Tourist information on Perugia, Italy

Perugia is the capital city of the Umbria region of central Italy. An important centre of medieval art, it has a rich cultural heritage which is borne out by its abundance of historic buildings and art museums. The great Renaissance painter Perugino was a native of the city and his best-known pupil, Raphael, learned his trade here. With its two universities and language school, Perugia is also a major centre of education and has a large student population. It is known for the Umbria Jazz Festival which is held here each summer, and also for its chocolates, which are popular all over Italy. Perugia is not only an interesting city in its own right, it also provides an excellent base from which to explore other hill towns in the region, such as Assisi, Gubbio and Spello.

Perugia was originally a settlement inhabited by the Umbrians and later the Etruscans. It was conquered by the Romans in 319 BC and played an important role in the Second Punic War. In 547 AD, it was ransacked by the Ostrogoths and then came under Byzantine control. In the 9th century, it was a powerful independent city-state allied with the Papal States. In the 14th century, Perugia's autonomy was challenged by the Pope and after a war it was compelled to accept Papal authority. Perugia remained under the control of the Holy Roman Empire until Umbria became part of a united Italy in 1861.

Most of the tourist attractions in Perugia are to be found at the top of the hill in the Centro Storico (historic centre). What little remains of the Rocca Paolina, a 16th-century fortress, can be glimpsed from the escalators which take you up from the lower town. Near to the ruined fortress is the Porta Marzia (Marzia Gate), an Etruscan city gate that dates back to the 3rd century BC and was later incorporated into the city walls. Other Etruscan remains can be found around the city, including a 36 metre deep well (Pozzo Etrusco) on the Piazza Danti, near the front entrance of the cathedral.

Perugia's grandest building is the Palazzo dei Priori, a magnificent Gothic-style palace of the 1300s, located opposite the cathedral. It contains a substantial meeting room, the Sala dei Notari, the Municipal Library and National Gallery of Umbria. It also houses the Collegio del Cambio, the historic seat of the city's Exchange Guild, which now exhibits several examples of Renaissance art, including a superb Perugino fresco on which Raphael worked during his apprenticeship. The Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria (National Gallery of Umbria) has a collection of paintings from the 13th to the 19th century, with work by such artists as Duccio, Perugino, Beato Angelico, Piero della Francesca and Pintoricchio. It also contains an ancient sculpture believed to be of Etruscan origin. Another museum that is well-worth visiting is the Museo Archeologico, which traces the history of Perugia from prehistoric times, with emphasis on the native Umbri tribes and their Etruscan neighbours.

The Cathedral of San Lorenzo dates from the early 14th century and was completed in 1490, although its external marble decorations were never finished. It is unusual in that its flank faces the square it is situated on instead of its front entrance. The cathedral's features include the Pietra della Giustizia (Justice Stone), which bears an inscription to the effect that the city has paid off its public debt, and an exterior pulpit from which Saint Bernardine of Siena preached in the 15th century. The Fontana Maggiore is a large medieval fountain which stands between the cathedral and the Palazzo dei Priori. It was erected in 1278 to celebrate the city's independence, and was designed by Fra Bevignate and sculpted by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano. The fountain base is lavishly decorated with sculptures of saints, prophets and Biblical scenes.

Perugia has many sacred buildings of interest. To the southeast of the Corso Vannucci, the city's main thoroughfare, is the Basilica of San Domenico a Gothic church built in the 14th and 15th centuries which served as a model for the later cathedral of San Lorenzo. It has an enormous belfry (added in the 16th century) and houses some fine examples of Umbrian art, including the tomb of Pope Benedict XI. Further along the Corso Cavour is San Pietro, a 16th century monastery with an hexagonal bell tower. The interior is richly adorned with some great works of art, including some by Perugino. San Michele Arcangelo (Sant'Angelo) is a Palaeo-Christian church that dates to the 5th century. The Church of Sant'Ercolano was built in the 14th century and has the shape of a many-sided tower with Baroque adornments. Its altar derives from a 4th century sarcophagus. The Chapel of San Severo contains a fresco by Raphael and Perugino.

There is more to Perugia than its historic monuments. The city is a great place to walk, with its quaint cobbled streets and fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. You can cross the Roman aqueduct that runs between two of the city's hills on foot. Outside the Porta San Costanzo is the Orto Botanico dell'Università di Perugia, an attractive botanical garden maintained by the university. This has a collection of 3000 species including aquatic plants, succulents, tropical plants, herbs and fruit plants, and provides a welcome respite after some intensive sightseeing.

Perugia's nearest airport is San Egidio Airport (Aeroporto di Perugia-Sant'Egidio), 12 km from the city centre. This offers flights to a very limited number of European destinations, including Milan, Brussels and London. Other airports with a wider choice of destinations include: Rome, Florence and Milan. Perugia's public transport system includes escalators, lifts and buses. A new driverless railway called the Minimetro connects the historic centre with the railway station, Perugia Fontivegge (3 km southwest of the city centre). By rail, it is easy to get to other towns in the region, notably Assisi, and there are also links to Florence and Rome.