HISTORY OF PERUGIA:
Perugia was settled by the Etruscans more than 2500 years ago. In the 3rd century BC, the settlement was mentioned as Perusia in the writings of Quintus Fabius Pictor, the earliest known Roman historian, as one of the twelve cities in the Etruscan League. Read More [...]
Around the year 250 AD, Perugia became a Roman colonia, under the emperor Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the city was seized in turn by the Byzantines, by the Goths, again by the Byzantines, and finally by the Lombards.
In the 11th century, Perugia gained its autonomy, but during the 14th and 15th centuries it became a pawn in the fight between the papacy and various Italian dukes and kings. The Rocca Paolina citadel was built during the 16th century for Pope Paul III, after a design by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger.
In 1797, the city was conquered by French troops of Napoleon Bonaparte, and around the middle of the 19th century, by the Austrians. In September 1860, Perugia became, along with the rest of Umbria, part of the Kingdom of Italy.
GEOGRAPHY OF PERUGIA:
Today, Perugia is a city of about 170,000 inhabitants, the capital of the province of Perugia, part of the Italian region of Umbria. The historical center of Perugia is located on a high hilltop, while the rest of the city is spread in the surrounding valleys. Read More [...]
Perugia is located 21 kilometers northwest of Assisi, 57 kilometers northwest of Spoleto, 65 kilometers northeast of Orvieto, 73 kilometers southeast of Arezzo, 110 kilometers southeast of Siena, 140 kilometers southeast of Florence, 170 kilometers north of Rome, 215 kilometers southeast of Pisa, 240 kilometers southeast of Bologna, 330 kilometers south of Venice, 365 kilometers northwest of Naples, 455 kilometers southeast of Milan, 520 kilometers northwest of Bari, 540 kilometers southeast of Turin, and about 855 kilometers northwest of Reggio Calabria.
TRANSPORT TO PERUGIA:
You can get to Perugia by plane, arriving at the San Francesco d'Assisi Airport, the main airport of Umbria, located 12 kilometers east. To get from the airport to Perugia, you can take one of the local buses E007 and E422. The trip takes about 25 minutes, and a ticket costs 2.50€ at the ticket office or 3.50€ if bought on board. Read More [...]
You can travel to Perugia by train, from the south, from Rome, or from the north, from Florence. A trip from Rome takes about 2 hours and a half, and the cheapest train ticket costs 12.90€, while a trip from Florence takes about 2 hours, and the cheapest ticket costs 14.65€.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN PERUGIA:
The historical center of Perugia is a wonderful collection of brick houses and small squares conected by winding alleys and stairways. It is a pleasure to get lost in the narrow streets of the city, and this is, by far, the best way to discover Perugia. Read More [...]
The most important attractions in Perugia are concentrated in Piazza IV Novembre. There, you can find Palazzo dei Priori, which houses the National Gallery of Umbria (Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria), the famous Fontana Maggiore, and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Cathedral of Perugia.
Besides these, worth mentioning are the Basilica of San Pietro, the Basilica of San Domenico, the Rocca Paolina citadel, the Etruscan Arch, and the Medieval Aqueduct.