Rising from one of Umbria’s most prosperous valleys and surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and sheep pastures, Perugia is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. Explore the hilltop downtown precinct with restaurant-lined boulevards and discover the scattered alleyways that descend to the edge of the city. Perugia is home to an impressive collection of medieval art, a subterranean fortress and one of Europe’s most revered jazz festivals.
Perugia’s narrow, cobbled streets are best explored on foot. Sign up for a walking tour and discover a host of historic attractions. Explore the subterranean 16th-century fortress Rocca Paolina beneath the city streets. A short walk away is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo overlooking the main square, Piazza IV Novembre. Walk down Piazza Danti, a street just near the cathedral, to reach Perugia’s famous Etruscan Well (Pozzo Etrusco). It was built in the 3rd century and once supplied water to the entire city.
Tour the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria and see paintings that date back to the 13th century by renowned Italian artists, including Beato Angelico and Nicola e Giovanni Pisano. Find a restaurant and try some hearty Umbrian cuisine, such as pasta with black truffles or locally made pork sausage.
Visit the University of Perugia, which attracts students from around the world and gives the village a youthful energy. On weekends, the bars and restaurants that line the main streets reverberate with lively conversations and music.
Located in central Umbria, Perugia makes the perfect base for trips to neighboring villages. Drive to the medieval hamlet of San Lorenzo della Rabatta and indulge in the finest produce of the area or tour the picturesque walled cities of Spello and Gubbio.
Perugia is approximately a 2-hour drive north of Rome. The Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi – Umbria International Airport is about 20 minutes’ drive east of central Perugia. Most visitors, however, choose to arrive via Italy’s high-speed rail system. Central Italy’s weather remains temperate year-round but most visit in summer to soak up the sun. Come in July and listen to jazz wafting through the air as the Umbria Jazz Festival takes over the city.