Church and complex of Saint Giuliana

Looking southwards from the terrace of the Carducci gardens, you cannot fail to notice the Cistercian Church of St Giuliana. From a distance, the eye is drawn by the bell tower, one of the few in this town with a Gothic spire rising up above the surrounding trees, the Umbrian countryside and the gardens of the former convent. The complex has been altered several times, and once even reduced to a grain store. It is not part of the traditional tourist routes but is well-known among the Perugians who visit the athletics track nearby. On the 14th-century façade of the church, all in white and red marble with geometric designs, the highlight is the beautiful portal surmounted by a rose window. Inside, you can see traces of frescoes from various eras. The monastery, on the other hand, is now a languages school for the army. It is open to visitors by appointment, and has a beautiful cloister from 1376 attributed to Matteo Gattapone. You will certainly want to stop and admire the elaborately-decorated capitals on the octagonal pillars, also with white and red bands.