Perugia

Our first visit to Perugia was in 1995. Losing our credit card by forgetting it in a restaurant diverted our attention away from enjoying the city to getting a replacement credit card. So return trips were in order. The city has a rich past. It was a powerful, city-state allied to the Papal State. It has been a university town for more than 700 years.

Be prepared to climb. The city is buit on a hill with steep narrow pedestrian only streets. The first challenge is to find a parking lot. Many of the parking lots have a series of esculators which are greatly appreciasted! But, as we found in 2019, there may be an esculator on the map, but it does not necessarily mean it works!

There are various areas of the city to see, however, as a first option, walk to the Piazza IV Novembre as this is the centre of the historic area. Emjoy the steep alleys which lead to the old Etruscan walls and the Porta Marzia, Porta Sole, Porta Cornea, Porta Trasimena, Porta della Mandorla and the Arco Etrusco.

The Piazza IV Novembre is beautiful, surrounded by grand buildings. The large Fontanna Maggiore stands in the centre. It is a medieval fountain was built in the second half of the 12th century. At the time the the fountain was the terminus of the aqueduct which carried water to the town from Mount Pacciano. The Palazzo Dei Priori was built in 1298 has a large stairway and a portal leading to Sala dei Notari, a vaulted roomwith great frescoes. The Palazzo also holds the National Gallery of Umbria.

The Cathedral of San Lorenzo took more than a century to complete and was finalized near the end of the 1400s.

Viale Indipendenza Terrace

On our 2023 visit to Perugia we will have to talk to the end of Viale Indipendenza, you can enjoy a panoramic stone terrace overlooking Assisi and its countryside.

Another viewpoint is from the terrace of the Mercato Coperto, the covered market. An arch separates Corso Vannucci from Piazza Matteotti. Behind the Mercato Coperto is a terradce that has panoramic views of the valleys and villages.

 

 

Palazzo dei Priori

With many of the streets in Perugia, you do not walk - you climb!

Even small streets have grand architecture.

Work on the cathedra commenced in 1345 and was completed in 1490. The exterior of the cathedral is covered with pink and white marble.

Walking down Corso Pietro Vannucci the street is lined with shops and many small piazza, such as here, at the Piazza della Repubblica. Lots of out door cafes and restaurants along the way.

The city has a great feel.