Perugia: Discover Art, Archaeology and Culture

Rocca Paolina and archaeological traces

You can walk through the interior of the Rocca Paolina. Houses, towers and streets from a medieval district were incorporated into its construction. The Rocca Paolina Museum traces the building’s history; the underground areas can be visited via the escalator connection between Piazza Partigiani and Piazza Italia. Another feature of the complex is the Porta Marzia: the Etruscan gate dates from the 3rd century BC, and its upper section was incorporated into the façade of the Rocca.

On the Perugia Sotterranea tour, you can see the north side of the terrace wall of the Etruscan acropolis, which is more than 15 metres high at this point. Archaeological traces visible there also include a Roman house from the 1st century BC, with an impluvium and cocciopesto floors. The Pozzo Etrusco illustrates Etruscan water engineering and architectural techniques; an explanatory video introduces it to visitors. At the Fontana Maggiore, relief panels in the lower basin depict the twelve months and their corresponding zodiac signs. They were created by Nicola Pisano and Giovanni Pisano.

Museums, art and collections

The M.A.N.U. Museo Archeologico nazionale dell’Umbria displays prehistoric finds, as well as materials from ancient Umbrian and Etruscan centres and Roman archaeological sites in the present-day region of Umbria. It also reconstructs the tomb of the Cai Cutu family, dating from the 3rd to the 1st century BC, complete with its grave goods. At the Casa Museo Palazzo Sorbello, you can see paintings, porcelain, printed works, manuscripts and embroidered textiles. Frescoed rooms and views over Perugia and the Assisi Valley are also part of this aristocratic palace.

Palazzo della Penna is a contemporary art centre with a museum and houses two collections. Among the works preserved there are six panels by Joseph Beuys from his performance with Alberto Burri, held at the Rocca Paolina on 3 April 1980. Another artistic trace can be found in the Cappella di San Severo: it houses the last work Perugino created in Perugia and the only work by Raphael preserved in the city. The Cattedrale di San Lorenzo offers visits to the cathedral and its artworks, the Museo Capitolare with its archaeological excavations, and a virtual tour. Check current opening times before visiting.

Franciscan sites in Assisi

The World Heritage property “Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites” is associated with Saint Francis and includes medieval masterpieces by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto. The World Heritage property includes the Basilica of San Francesco, the Basilica of Santa Chiara, the Rocca Maggiore, the Eremo delle Carceri, San Damiano, Rivotorto and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. The designated area covers 14,563 hectares; the buffer zone covers 4,087 hectares. The names and figures give an overview of the extent of this cultural heritage.

Cultural sites on Isola Polvese

Isola Polvese can be reached by boat from the piers at San Feliciano, Passignano sul Trasimeno and Castiglione del Lago. As timetables may change, it is worth checking the connection before travelling. The restored Ex Chiesa Santa Maria della Cerqua serves as a landmark for the walking trails. The restored buildings house public services, classrooms, scientific laboratories and offices.

The preserved and repurposed buildings also tell the story of different ways to visit. Castello di Difesa has a self-supporting steel walkway, restored in 1999, that makes the parapet accessible and safe for visitors; its courtyard is used as an open-air theatre for performances and concerts. The restored Ex Fagianaia now serves as a multimedia classroom for learning through experience and investigation. The restored Roccolo di caccia is used for educational birdwatching and is accessible to people with disabilities. On the island’s highest point, the San Secondo complex includes a 12th-century church and a 15th-century Olivetan monastery. The latter retains its façade, external perimeter walls, part of the apse and a crypt.

Solomeo and science to explore

Solomeo is a medieval village in the province of Perugia, with a castle and lanes paved with terracotta. The Foro delle Arti there was built by Umbrian artisans inspired by William Morris and John Ruskin. Within the complex, the Teatro Brunello Cucinelli is the central monument; it seats more than 200 people. Solomeo thus combines the character of a historic village with a cultural complex whose architecture reflects a distinctive artistic vision.

If you would like to explore science as well as art and history, the POST – Perugia Officina della Scienza e della Tecnologia is an interactive science museum serving the city and province of Perugia. It is the leading regional institution for science communication and gives people of all ages access to scientific methods and subjects. These different areas of interest can help guide your choice of accommodation: historic buildings, collections and art, or a visit focused on science.

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

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