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In the heart of Italy lies one of its oldest centres, Perugia, known for its vibrant social life, university heritage and much more

A modern city with traces of its prominent past around every corner: standing atop a hill in the Tiber valley, Perugia, the capital of Umbria, is a renowned city of art and an effervescent cultural centre. Built as a fortified medieval village, it is encompassed by a mighty city wall. It boasts top-notch museums and beautiful nature, not forgetting chocolate, which it produces and celebrates at the mouth-watering Eurochocolate festival.

  • City and surroundings
  • Sites
Historical sites
Rocca Paolina

Rocca Paolina

The salt trade, a dear and precious product until the industrial age, is at the centre of the events that led to the construction of the Rocca Paolina, a cyclopean defensive fortress at the southern end of Perugia's historic centre. In 1540, in an attempt to enrich the coffers of the Church to finance the religious wars in the Holy Land, the then Pope Paul III tried to impose a much higher payment on the government of Perugia for the purchase of salt than had been agreed upon up to that time. Irritated by this exorbitant demand, the Perugians, who had no way of procuring their own salt, rebelled against the papal decision and started a series of violent clashes against a military force, that of Paul III, which was much larger and more organised than theirs. As predicted, the papal army occupied Perugia after a few months and the pope decided to assert his new role of dominion over the city by building the Rocca Paolina, which remained unused in the following centuries: Perugia was in fact never attacked, remaining permanently under Vatican control until 1860. After careful restoration and recovery work, the Rocca Paolina now welcomes visitors along a fascinating walkway, which traverses the underground of the Umbrian capital with escalators and underground tunnels. One is in the heart of the 'buried city', and along the underground Via Bagliona one walks among streets and small squares, courtyards and fondachi, overlooked by the windows of ancient dwellings or bakeries and workshops. But along the tour, at the top of the escalators and in the midst of the 'past', in the Salone delle Acque, does not go unnoticed by Il Grande Nero created by Burri in 1980, an imposing 7.5 metre high kinetic sculpture in the shape of an irregular prism: on its top you can see a sort of lunette that, thanks to an internal mechanism, moves in a slow, silent and constant manner.
Leisure
Città della Domenica

Città della Domenica

Città della Domenica: the children’s park of animals and fairy tales Città della Domenica (‘Sunday City’) in Perugia is the first family amusement park created in Italy in the 1950s. It has entertained generations for 60 years. This charming 'old-fashioned' park is designed to offer young children an unforgettable opportunity to see animals in nature and to discover the imaginative settings of their favourite fairy tales. This is the perfect place to spend a special family day, not just on a Sunday! An amusement and nature park Just six kilometres from the centre of Perugia, Città della Domenica covers 45 hectares of holm oak, plane tree and oak woods. It was created in the late 1950s by Mario Spagnoli, a Perugian entrepreneur and son of fashion designer Luisa Spagnoli. The area where the structure stands, historically named Monte Pulito (‘Clean Mountain’) because it lacked any vegetation, is now an area of lush greenery where many animals live, some in the wild. You can easily visit on foot or by taking a small train. At first, it was just a clay pigeon shooting range, but later it turned into an children’s amusement park, and since the 1980s it has also been involved in environmental conservation and teaching about nature. Straight out of a fairy tale Città della Domenica lets you immerse yourself in the world of children’s most beloved fairy tales: there is Pinocchio's village, Little Red Riding Hood's house, Merlin the Wizard's tower, the fairy forest, Sleeping Beauty's castle, and Snow White's little house. There are also plenty of more dynamic attractions, including a mini-kart track, Fort Apache, an Indian village where you can meet Red Bear, mini-motorboats, a riding school, a labyrinth, a Trojan horse you can all pile inside, and even a rocket that offers magnificent panoramic views of the city of Perugia and the Umbrian countryside. Various entertainment activities are organised daily for children and parents, from treasure hunts to an adventure game to save the park's resident animals. The falconers' show offers the exciting chance to see trained birds of prey such as owls, buzzards and eagles up close. One of the most recent attractions added to Città della Domenica is the Talking Forest, a 300-metre-long trail that teaches children to listen to nature. Designed by Bulgarian artist Kiril Cholakov, it allows children to be protagonists in a story in which they have to pass tests to become messengers for the trees. This exciting and educational experience teaches the value of the forest as an interconnected system of living nature. Animals in the wild Many animals roam free in the forest of Città della Domenica. Along the trails, you can spot mammals and birds common to the European continent, as well as exotic species that have adapted to the climate of central Italy. Among them is the mascot of the park, the Asinara donkey, with its white coat. This beautiful animal was saved from extinction thanks to the efforts of Città della Domenica, in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Perugia. If you climb up the mountain, towards the rocket, you will find the wildlife route, where you can see kangaroos, reindeer, ostriches, yaks, llamas, Patagonian hares, dromedaries, African buffaloes and snowy owls. In the park, you can find all kinds of animals, from rabbits, both dwarf and giant, to hens, geese, turtle doves, swans, peacocks, cranes, storks, macaws, American bison, African mouflon, llamas and antelopes. Near the park’s exit, inside Darwin’s Tower, you will find a reptile house, homes to alligators, caimans, and venomous and giant snakes.
Villages
frazione CASTEL RIGONE

frazione CASTEL RIGONE

Castel Rigone, the highest point on Lake Trasimeno If you are looking for the most amazing view of Lago di Trasimeno "a veil of water stretched out over a meadow", as art historian Cesare Brandi put it, then climb to the highest point of the lake, Castel Rigone. Found in the hamlet of Passignano, 650 metres away, in a charming medieval village. One of Umbria's Renaissance masterpieces, the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima dei Miracoli, has been a place of popular devotion for centuries and is preserved within its walls. Nowadays, it draws those who prefer an idyllic countryside. The village of miracles Castel Rigone is believed to have been founded by a commander of the Ostrogoths, Arrigo, in the year 543, as an outpost for the siege of Perugia. To this day, a festival of the Barbarians is celebrated in the village to commemorate the Ostrogothic foundation. The present-day village dates from the Middle Ages and remains nearly intact. Over recent decades, many of its buildings have been transformed into holiday homes. Founded by the people of Perugia during the 1494 outbreak of plague, the Sanctuary was inspired by that of Madonna del Calcinaio in Cortona. With its many agritourism sites, Castel Rigone is a destination for those who appreciate local products, from the oil and wine of the Trasimeno hills to the specialties of lake fish and the Trasimeno bean. Within easy reach is Magione, a village guarded by the castle that still belongs to the Knights of Malta, with the church of San Giovanni Battista, decorated with frescoes by the Perugian futurist painter Gerardo Dottori.
City

A historical and artistic jewel and beacon of central Italy

A small jewel full of characteristic narrow alleyways lined with majestic architecture, beautiful churches and treasured artwork and monuments. Above all, Perugia owes its fame as a city with a young, fresh and cosmopolitan soul to its two historic universities, which welcome students from around the world. This makes it the perfect destination for travellers of all ages in search of attractions of all kinds. Culture, entertainment and traditional flavours combine to provide a unique experience, a taste of the most authentic and profound Italy.

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Perugia Terni
Piazza IV Novembre - Perugia, Umbria
Perugia

In the heart of Italy lies one of its oldest centres, Perugia, known for its vibrant social life, university heritage and much more. A modern city with traces of its prominent past around every corner: standing atop a hill in the Tiber valley, Perugia, the capital of Umbria, is a renowned city of art and an effervescent cultural centre. Built as a fortified medieval village, it is encompassed by a mighty city wall. It boasts top-notch museums and beautiful nature, not forgetting chocolate, which it produces and celebrates at the mouth-watering Eurochocolate festival.

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Cattedrale Santa Maria Assunta a Terni
Terni

Dual soul of the “city of steel” Terni is a city nestled in the heart of the peninsula, rich in artistic and scenic beauty. Besides the Roman amphitheatre, still partly preserved, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Romanesque tower of the Barbarasa family and the Basilica of St Valentine, where the remains of the patron saint of lovers are kept, are worth a visit. Older buildings are mixed with contemporary architecture such as the “Lance of Light”, better known as Arnaldo Pomodoro's Obelisk. It is the modern symbol of the city and depicts the evolution of the art of smelting from the raw iron of the base to the tip that appears to be made of gold. One of the most beautiful towns in the province is Orvieto, famous for its cathedral with its polychrome façade and for the Pozzo di San Patrizio: its helicoidal staircase will take you to a depth of 62 metres. Equally fascinating are the medieval Narni and La Scarzuola, Tomaso Buzzi's “ideal city”. From a landscape point of view, the Marmore Waterfalls stand out. With a height difference of 165 metres, divided into three jumps, it is one of the highest in Europe, ideal for a range of outdoor sports such as rafting, canyoning, hydrospeed and kayaking. Visiting some caves and karstic forms excavated over millennia by water is also possible. Lake Piediluco, due to the absence of currents and the presence of regular winds, is an excellent field for rowing races.

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