Discover Perugia

Gem Attractions

Discover Perugia

Gem Attractions

Discover Perugia

Gem Attractions

Perugia trails

Discover the intimate and unseen aspects of Perugia, hidden from distracted and hurried eyes. Explore itineraries that allow visitors to delve into the heart of the historic center, navigating through a dense network of alleyways. The authenticity and uniqueness of the city within these narrow streets are so profound that the allure and sensations experienced by modern visitors are not too dissimilar from those of travelers in the 19th century, such as Taine or Hawthorne.

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WELLS AND FOUNTAINS

Following the fountains of Perugia

WELLS AND FOUNTAINS

Following the fountains of Perugia

Spend at least two hours for the walk that starts from Piazza IV Novembre, the city center, where the 'mother' of all the fountains shines: the Fontana Maggiore, one of the most beautiful of the thirteenth century for the elegance of the lines and the value of the decorations. In about five minutes, passing through Piazza Danti, you will arrive in via Rocchi at the Fonte dell’Arco Etrusco, with classical forms: it was built in 1621 close to the left tower of the Etruscan gate, in Piazza Braccio Fortebraccio. Now cross via Baldeschi and you are immediately at the Fountain in via Maestà delle Volte, built in 1928 to a design by Pietro Angelini. In another handful of minutes, after having crossed via Fratti, via della Stella and via dei Priori, you are in the presence of one of the most ancient sources of Perugia: the Fontana del Piscinello. In ten quick minutes, the road is downhill, you arrive at the Fonte dei Tintori, in via San Galigano. The ancient artifact was erected in 1388. A walk of about twenty minutes awaits you to reach Fonte di Veggio, a work designed by Matteo Salvucci (1615-1642) which takes its name from the then owner of the land; take the same time or a little longer to get to the gardens of San Ercolano in piazza Matteotti, where you can admire the 17th century Fountain of Neptune. In the center of an octagonal basin, it has a column supporting a basin from which the god Neptune emerges. Reach via Marzia and you are again near the center. Here, leaning against the wall of the Rocca Paolina, you will find the Fonte Lomellina, in travertine, built between 1678 and 1685.


ETRUSCAN WALLS AND GATES

A great example of Etruscan architecture

ETRUSCAN WALLS AND GATES

A great example of Etruscan architecture

Perugia was one of the main Etruscan towns. Its external walls, dating back to the third century BC (with some older, fourth century parts), still witness the importance the town had acquired. The whole perimeter is some three kilometers (1.5 miles) long; many sections remain visible, while others have been incorporated within later buildings. The town walls were built by using travertine blocks shaped like squares or trapezoids, in rows superimposed to one another without any mortar. We can still nowadays recognize letters of the Etruscan alphabet on the blocks. On the North side of the walls, where the Via Amerina (the road to Amelia) left the town, there rises the Etruscan Arch. It was called porta pulchra, 'the Beautiful Gate', already in the Middle Ages because of its imposing and refined architecture.


BEAUTIFUL VIEWS

Panoramic points of Perugia

BEAUTIFUL VIEWS

Panoramic points of Perugia

After discovering Perugia "from the ground floor", all that remains is to climb up and admire from above the wonderful views, buildings and attractions of the city. Here are the best views of Perugia. From the Belvedere Carducci you can enjoy one of the most open views of the southern part of the city: the Tiber Valley, the Umbrian Valley and the mountain systems from the Eugubin to the Coscerno. Porta Sole - Via delle Prome: from the parapet of Piazza Rossi Scotti, which continues for the first stretch of the staircase of Via delle Prome, you can enjoy a beautiful view that stretches from east to north, from the medieval walls of Borgo Sant'Antonio to Borgo Sant'Angelo with the formwork, the Temple of Sant'Angelo and, at the top, Monteripido. The covered market terrace offers a view to the east over the city as far as San Domenico and San Pietro, with their characteristic bell towers, while the view from the underlying park of Santa Margherita extends to the Subasio with Assisi and the surrounding mountains. Arch of Via Appia: from here you can enjoy a valuable view of the Conca, crossed by the characteristic hanging waterway and the village of Sant'Angelo.


UNDERGROUND PERUGIA

Trace the history of the acropolis

UNDERGROUND PERUGIA

Trace the history of the acropolis

To begin your trip in underground Perugia, head to the Museo del Capitolo di San Lorenzo, next to the cathedral of the same name. The visit begins from the cloister of the Canonica, via a side staircase. You will find yourself in the Sala del Conclave, where four Popes were elected: Honorius III, Honorius IV, Celestine V and Clement V. Leaving the room, follow the route indicated, which will guide you to the remains of the Etruscan walls, built to make the acropolis of Perugia appear even more majestic. Here there was a temple, perhaps dedicated to Juno-Hera (in Etruscan, Uni). Proof of this can be seen in the vault, of medieval origins, built in the foundations of the Cathedral which can be visited. Still following the route, walk on the ancient cobbled road, first used by the Etruscans and later the Romans, on which the ruts left by cart wheels are still visible today. Continue your trip following the ancient Roman road and you will find yourself below Piazza Cavallotti. If you want to make your trip to underground Perugia even more exciting, check the CAI website which organises exciting and fascinating "walks". You can be a speleologist/archaeologist for a day and see the Etruscan well, the underground areas of the Cathedral, the Postierla della Conca, a secondary entry gate to the town, near the Roman aqueduct, that allows access to the deep underground passages intended for pedestrians or also, according to some, for flood waters, as well as the air-raid shelter- a historic place that joins Corso Cavour to Rocca Paolina.
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