Discover Perugia: Art and History

Perugia can be explored through very different examples of architecture and art: the Fontana Maggiore combines medieval sculpture with the history of water supply, while the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria houses works spanning the 13th to the 19th century. The Rocca Paolina, in turn, preserves the layout of an entire neighborhood inside. When choosing a hotel in Perugia, it may therefore be important to consider whether you would like to focus your stay primarily on art collections, architecture, or the city’s archaeological traces.

The Fontana Maggiore and Palazzo dei Priori

The Fontana Maggiore was built by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano between 1278 and 1280 to celebrate the completion of Perugia’s new aqueduct. Two concentric basins, one above the other, form the fountain; it is decorated with 50 bas-reliefs and 24 statues. Its construction period, purpose, and decoration each offer a different perspective: it is both a testament to sculpture and connected to the city’s water supply. As an outdoor site, the Fontana Maggiore is accessible to people with mobility impairments.

The Palazzo dei Priori houses the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria. Its collection spans the 13th to the 19th century. The exhibition space covers 3,500 square meters and is spread across 40 rooms, a tower, and a chapel; the gallery provides an overview of 800 years of Italian art history. The Palazzo’s Gothic portal leads to the Sala dei Notari. Perugia thus offers different cultural and historical perspectives: a collection spanning a long period and a portal leading to a named hall.

A city’s history in several layers

The Rocca Paolina reveals another historical layer. It was built between 1540 and 1543 to a design by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. Houses, towers, and streets from an entire neighborhood were incorporated into the complex; this area can still be explored on foot inside. At the same time, the Rocca Paolina is now an exhibition center with escalators running through it. The site thus combines the architectural incorporation of a neighborhood with an exhibition function. Its history differs from that of the art collection in the Palazzo dei Priori and offers another specific focus for your stay.

The Pozzo Etrusco, also known as the Pozzo Sorbello, is located in today’s Piazza Piccinino. The Arco Etrusco is a monumental Etruscan gate dating from the 3rd century BC; it is outdoors and accessible to people with mobility impairments. The Palazzo della Penna stands on the remains of the Roman Marzio Amphitheater and partly incorporates a medieval street layout and a medieval city wall. The palazzo houses two collections: one devoted to Gerardo Dottori and the Umbrian Futurists, and another on Joseph Beuys in Perugia. These sites differ both in their historical context and in what they draw attention to: a gate, a well, architectural remains, or art collections.

At the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, access leads to the Museo Capitolare and its archaeological excavations. The Laboratorio–Museo Giuditta Brozzetti is located in the church of San Francesco delle Donne, a 13th-century church and the first Franciscan establishment in Perugia. Together with the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria and the Palazzo della Penna, these places offer different ways to explore art, archaeology, and architectural history.

A circular route for a different perspective

The Anello di Perugia circular route complements the architectural and artistic themes with a connection to the landscape. It starts at the Percorso Verde in Pian di Massiano, runs alongside the forests of Monte Malbe, and then reaches San Marco. Unlike the individual attractions, this circular route can be understood through its described course: from the stated starting point, along the forests, to San Marco. When planning your stay, you can therefore distinguish between Perugia’s cultural sites and this route.

Discover more destinations: Campi, Preggio, Buchignano, Cannara, San Martino In Trignano, Doglio, Borghetto, Branca.

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