Perugia and its territory
Perugia has always benefited from its lucky geographic
and strategic position. Located as it is at the centre of
the region, where the valleys and the historic itineraries
have always met, it still shows the wealth and stratifications
of a glorious past. Piazza IV November is its heart, the
centre of the antique city and of the modern one, the place
where was built the cathedral, the Fountain Maggiore, the
Palazzo of the Priori. 
The Middle Ages were for the city a moment of great glory.
The Cathedral, dedicated to San Lorenzo, was started during
the 10th century and saw successive modifications and stratifications
which lasted up to the 16th century. During the 13th century
an important aqueduct was built, one of the first ones in
Italy at that time, that was reaching the centre of the
city and was arriving on the square with the elegant and
refined Fountain Maggiore, started by Giovanni and Nicola
Pisano and finished by Arnolfo di Cambio. The Palazzo of
the Priori, built between the 13th and the 15th centuries,
represents the top of the power and splendour reached by
the medieval Commune. Towards the half of the 15th century,
arrived in Perugia the great Italian painters of the time:
Piero della Francesca and Beato Angelico, Filippo Lippi
who will then be called by Spoleto to realise the frescoes
of the apse of the cathedral and Agostino di Duccio. The
frescoes of the College of the Cambio are the works of Pietro
Vannucci, called the Perugino.
Antonio
da Sangallo the young projected the Rocca Paolina, the imposing
fortification wanted by pope Paolo III in 1540, destroyed
in 1860 and of which we can still see parts of the walls
and is also visible, using the actual escalators, part of
the pre existing medieval walls. The Etruscan Arch, also
called of August, was built during the 3rd century before
Christ and we can still admire its imposing aspect.
City strongly influenced by the presence of a lot of religious
orders, Perugia has seen during the centuries the construction
of numerous churches, monasteries, headquarters of confraternities
that, through their profiles, are still influencing in a
characteristic way the surroundings of the urban space.
It is enough to think about the complex of S. Pietro, in
S. Domenico, about the antique paleochristian church of
S. Michele Archangel, the one of S. Bevignate, and the one
of Santa Giuliana.
If you want to stay in the green countryside next to the
city, the country house MACINA
DELL’OSCANO. will allow you to relax and to visit
the beauties of the historic centre of the city, but also
to go cycling, to play tennis and to practice sport fishing.
The hilly territory surrounding the city is spread of small
villages, rural churches, chapels, monasteries. If you want
to visit the characteristic medieval village of Solomeo,
restructured respecting the history, take a holiday to the
AGRITURISMO
IL MANDOLETO. and with an evening stop to the restaurant
of typical Umbrian cooking, within the LOCANDA
DI SOLOMEO: you will penetrate the heart of the traditions
and of the most genuine sensations that the welcoming of
Donatella, whose family has lived in Perugia for generations,
and of her staff will provide you. Regarding, on the other
hand, the Etruscan civilisation, the fundamental reference
is the site of the “Ipogeo dei Volumi” close
to Ponte S. Giovanni. Close to Perugia we also find the
important centre of Corciano, famous for its walls, for
the beauty of its historic centre and for the so many cultural
initiatives it hosts, above all during the summer.
If you like to spend time at the table, if you want to taste
a large variety of typical Umbrian cakes, there is a place
made especially for you: LA
LOCANDA DEI GOLOSI is an excellent restaurant organising
also cooking and pastry lessons.
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