Perugia: Art, History and Excursions in Umbria

Perugia brings together an underground urban history, Etruscan evidence, significant art and a wide range of excursion destinations. You can explore the city itself through its squares, museums and historic buildings, or turn your attention to Assisi, Lake Trasimeno and the wider surrounding region. This makes Perugia suitable for a trip in which culture, landscapes and different daily interests can coexist.

Art and history in the heart of Perugia

A notable gateway to the city’s history is the Rocca Paolina. It can be crossed internally because it incorporated houses, towers and streets from a medieval city district. Its underground areas can be visited via the escalator connection between Piazza Partigiani and Piazza Italia. The Rocca Paolina Museum traces the history of this significant structure. Its façade also incorporates the upper part of the Porta Marzia, an Etruscan gate dating from the 3rd century BC.

Perugia Sotterranea also leads into older layers of the city. On the tour, you can see the northern side of the massive terrace wall of the Etruscan acropolis, which is more than 15 metres high at this point. Other visible remains include a Roman dwelling from the 1st century BC with an impluvium and floors made of cocciopesto. The Pozzo Etrusco is considered an important example of Etruscan hydraulic engineering and architectural technology and is presented through an explanatory video.

On Piazza IV Novembre, the relief panels on the lower basin of the Fontana Maggiore form a historical chapter of their own: Nicola Pisano and Giovanni Pisano depicted the twelve months of the year there, along with their respective zodiac signs. The Cappella di San Severo contains Perugino’s last work executed in Perugia and the only work by Raphael preserved in the city. The Arco dei Funari, made of white and pink stone, is located in the Porta San Pietro district; its name recalls the artisanal rope-making carried out there. The arch is a freely accessible outdoor site and can be reached via Via Vibi by people with mobility impairments.

Museums for different interests

The M.A.N.U. Museo Archeologico nazionale dell’Umbria displays prehistoric finds, materials from ancient Umbrian and Etruscan centres, and finds from Roman sites in today’s Umbria region. The museum also reconstructs the burial site of the Cai Cutu family from the 3rd to the 1st century BC, including its grave goods. Palazzo della Penna is a centre for contemporary art with museum functions and preserves two collections. It also houses six panels by Joseph Beuys from his performance with Alberto Burri held at the Rocca Paolina on 3 April 1980. The Casa Museo Palazzo Sorbello displays paintings, porcelain, printed works, manuscripts and embroidered textiles in an aristocratic palace with frescoed rooms and views of Perugia and the Assisi valley.

The Cattedrale di San Lorenzo offers visits to the cathedral and its artworks, the Museo Capitolare with archaeological excavations, and a virtual tour. For visitors who want to learn about science through more than just historical objects, POST – Perugia Officina della Scienza e della Tecnologia is an interactive science museum serving the city and province of Perugia. It is considered the region’s most important institution for science communication and gives people of all ages access to scientific methods and subjects. The Casa del Cioccolato Perugina® complements this range with product tastings, factory tours depending on the production calendar, and courses at the Scuola del Cioccolato.

Assisi, Solomeo and cultural excursions

The World Heritage Site of Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and other Franciscan sites are connected with Saint Francis and include medieval masterpieces by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto. The World Heritage Site comprises the Basilica of San Francesco, the Basilica of Santa Chiara, the Rocca Maggiore, the Eremo delle Carceri hermitage, San Damiano, Rivotorto and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. The area covers 14,563 hectares and has a buffer zone of 4,087 hectares.

For further cultural planning, the Terre del Perugino-Trasimeno musei network brings together more than 30 cultural institutions in six municipalities under a joint management structure and with a shared admission ticket. It offers guided tours, cultural activities and cultural programmes tailored individually to different visitor groups. Solomeo is a medieval village in the province of Perugia with a castle and terracotta-paved lanes. The Foro delle Arti was built by Umbrian artisans inspired by the British artists William Morris and John Ruskin. The Teatro Brunello Cucinelli is the central monument of the complex and seats more than 200 people.

At Lake Trasimeno, the Percorso storico-archeologico della Battaglia del Trasimeno combines history and landscape. Nine rest areas explain various aspects of the battle and the history of the landscape. From the positions at Malpasso and in the Sanguineto valley, the viewpoints extend over the battle valley and the historic combat area. The Centro di Documentazione Permanente sulla Battaglia del Trasimeno e Annibale houses a permanent exhibition on the Hannibalic era and regularly organises meetings, conferences, discussions and presentations. It has been open to the public since January 1996 in the Casa del Parco Il Sodo.

Isola Polvese and paths through the landscape

Isola Polvese can be reached by boat from the landing stages at San Feliciano, Passignano sul Trasimeno and Castiglione del Lago. Its restored buildings house public services, teaching rooms, scientific laboratories and offices. The restored Ex Chiesa Santa Maria della Cerqua serves as a landmark for the island’s hiking trails. The San Secondo complex is located on the highest part of Isola Polvese, with the 12th-century Chiesa di San Secondo and the 15th-century Olivetan monastery Monastero di San Secondo. The monastery’s façade, outer boundary walls, part of the apse and a crypt have survived.

Other sites on Isola Polvese combine historic fabric with nature observation. The Castello di Difesa has a cantilevered steel footbridge restored in 1999, making the battlement walkway accessible and safe for visitors. Its courtyard is used as an open-air theatre for performances and concerts. The Chiesa di San Giuliano preserves a section of Roman opus reticulatum in the retaining wall of its forecourt. Villa Biagiotti is a manor house built in the 1940s, set in gardens designed by landscape architect Pietro Porcinai. The restored Ex Fagianaia is now a multimedia teaching room and a centre for education based on experience and investigation. The restored Roccolo di caccia is used for educational birdwatching and is accessible to people with disabilities.

In the wider regional area, Parco del Monte Subasio offers 14 trails, including seven hiking routes and six cycling routes. Guided hikes are offered by CAI and GUMP. Sagrantino represents the region’s cuisine and wine tradition: this old grape variety is cultivated almost exclusively in the Montefalco area; its origins may date back as far as the 1st century AD. Sagrantino Passito is regarded as the traditional sweet form in the wider regional area around Perugia. The 1972 harvest was the first attempt to vinify dry Sagrantino.

Practical orientation for your trip

Piazza IV Novembre can be reached from Perugia railway station by taxi or local bus. Alternatively, you can take the Minimetrò to the Mercato Coperto station. This allows you to combine the city’s cultural attractions, museums and historical tours, while Isola Polvese can be reached by boat and the trails on Monte Subasio and the towns around Lake Trasimeno can shape other days of your trip. Which accommodation in Perugia is most suitable for you therefore depends primarily on whether you want to focus on the city’s history, museums or regional excursions.

Other places: Torri, Cecanibbi, Triponzo, Azzano, Villamagina, Parlesca, Pupaggi, Citerna, Capodacqua, Fabbri, Fighille, Casalina, Protte, Colle Umberto I, Solomeo, Torricella, Ponte Pattoli, Sant'arcangelo, Moiano, Nocera Umbra, Agello, Casalini Di Panicale, Castel Del Piano, Castel Rigone, Castiglion Fosco, Castiglione Del Lago, Castiglione Della Valle, Cibottola, Collesanto Di Magione, Lisciano Niccone, Magione, Mantignana, Mercatello, Missiano Di Panicale, Monte Del Lago, Monte Petriolo, Paciano, Panicale, Passignano Sul Trasimeno, Perugia, Piegaro, Pozzuolo, Preggio, San Feliciano, San Giovanni Del Pantano, San Fatucchio, Tavernelle, Tuoro Sul Trasimeno, Assisi, Bettona, Bevagna, Grutti, Citta Della Pieve, Città Di Castello, Collazzone, Colvalenza, Compignano, Foligno, Giano Dell Umbria, Gualdo Cattaneo, Gubbio, Lenano, Marsciano, Massa Martana, Migliano, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Montefalco, Monteleone Di Spoleto, Montepennino, Montignano, Montone, Papiano, Pianello, Preci, Ramazzano, Rancolfo, Ripabianca, San Giustino, San Leo Bastia, Sant'enea, Scritto, Spello, Spoleto, Sterpeto, Todi, Tordandrea, Torgiano, Trevi, Umbertide, Valfabbrica, Casalalta, Gubbio-Nerbisci, Petrignano, Pietralunga, Ferretto, Vitellino, Badiola, San Biagio De La Valle, Deruta, Corciano, Monte Castello Di Vibio, Castel Ritaldi, Scheggino, Savelli, Santa Maria Degli Angeli, Popoli, Norcia, San Martino In Campo, Crocemarroggia, Badia, Buchignano, San Terenziano, Bosco, Valtopina, Panicarola, Gioiello, Porto, Cerreto Di Spoleto, Vernazzano Basso, Poreta, Cimbano, Ripa, Pieve, Ferriera, Collestrada, Bastardo, Bruna, Cerbara, Gaglietole, Fossato Di Vico, Tordibetto, Rivotorto, Chiugiana-La Commenda, San Sisto, Sellano, Saragano, Fiore, San Litardo, Macchie, Molinaccio, Cascia, Calzolaro, Corcia, Branca, Corlo I, Civitella d'Arna, Ponte Centesimo, Sant'Anastasio, Pesciano, Grotti, Colpalombo, Ilci, Camerata, Sanguineto, Casanova di Torre, Colle Calzolaro, Doglio, Pascelupo, Porchiano, Fanciullata, Morcella, Piazzano, Colbassano, San Martino In Trignano, San Secondo, Villastrada, Bastia Umbra, Villa, Gualdo Tadino, Pila, San Martino In Colle, Pietrafitta, Rosceto, Fontignano, Torchiagina, Fratta Todina, Chioano, Sigillo, Cerro, Capanne, Ripaioli, Brufa, Lerchi, Collemancio, Poggiodomo, Pale, Montecastelli, Castelluccio, Uppello, Collescille, Santo Stefano dei Piccioni, Marcellano, San Marco, Volterrano, Borghetto, Monte Vibiano Vecchio, Pezza, San Brizio, Cortaccione, Bonsciano, Scheggia E Pascelupo, Torre Del Colle, Ponticelli, San Savino, Bazzano Superiore, Ospedalicchio, Montecchio, Palazzo, Giomici, Verchiano, Cerqueto, La Fornace, Spedalicchio, Armenzano, Terraia, Terzo San Severo, Beroide, Scopoli, Colfiorito, Piedicolle, Trestina, Morra, Capitan Loreto, Montecolognola, Pucciarelli, Rosciolo, Abeto, Limigiano, Pian di San Martino, Torraccia, Campello Sul Clitunno, Piana, Passaggio, Vaiano, Vallo Di Nera, Pitigliano, Ponte Nuovo, Cannara, Santʼanatolia Di Narco, Casacastalda, Canalicchio Di Collazzone, Pompagnano, Colombella, Casenove, Carbonesca, Civitella Benazzone, Mocaiana, Selci Lama, Mezzopiano, Parnacciano, Campi, Ranciano, Rasiglia, Fratticiola Selvatica, Pian di Marte, Izzalini, Castello Delle Forme, Montelovesco, Monteluco, Passaggio Di Assisi, Binami, Pantanella, Casamaggiore, Pierantonio, Camporeggiano, Cenerente, Costacciaro, Matigge, Strettura, Pilonico Materno, Uncinano, Onelli, San Giovanni Di Baiano, Gavelli, Montebibico, San Luca, Colle, Promano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Umbria.