Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit In Perugia, Italy. #Top Attractions

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As a vacation spot, Perugia, Italy, is a top-notch travel destination. For the best things to do in Perugia, Italy, and the coolest places to visit in Perugia, Italy. Scroll down for our top travel recommendations in Perugia, Italy. Wondrous Drifter is a Web 3 travel company that aspires to disrupt the travel industry.

Arco d’Agusto

Arco d’Agusto (Etruscan Arch), Perugia, Italy
Arco d’Agusto (Etruscan Arch), Perugia, Italy / Johan Haggi / Flickr

A symbol of the entrance to a city that dates back centuries.

This monument, also known as the Etruscan Arch, is one of the seven intact arches that once functioned as an entrance to Perugia.

Arco d’Augusto was once one of seven gates that enabled passage through Perugia’s Etruscan walls.

It was created in the second half of the third century B.C., but it is named after the Roman emperor who repaired it after taking the city in 40 B.C.

Augustus could only take Perugia after a seven-month siege due to the fortifications and the city’s high position.

This arch is one of the city’s oldest structures. It is regarded as the best surviving example of the city’s past defenses.

This period is marked by the gate’s inscription “Augusta Perusiae.” The gate’s two arches connect two trapezoidal towers.

The Renaissance erected the loggia at the top of one of these towers. The fountain underneath it was completed in 1621.

Various other features have been added to the arch over time, and it now resembles a fortress rather than a gateway.

Walk through the Arco d’Agusto on your next visit to Perugia.

Address: Corso d’Augusto, 47923 Rimini RN, Italy

Deruta

Deruta, Perugia, Italy
Deruta, Perugia, Italy / Angie Chung / Flickr

Take a day trip to this lovely town.

Deruta, in the Italian region of Umbria, is one of the most well-known centers for ceramics and chinaware production.

Hand-painted pottery and other ceramics are plentiful in Deruta, and visitors will not be disappointed.

A guide to the main styles of Deruta ceramics may be found here.

Although some of the finest Italian majolica were made between 1440 and 1540, Deruta’s distinctive ceramic styles, which are described below, achieved their pinnacles of development in the early 16th century.

These styles are now frequently imitated in other Italian pottery centers, but the best specimens are still made in Deruta, where a large selection of Derutaware is available at reasonable rates.

Bowls, unbaked clay plates, and other pieces are brought into the ovens to be baked, then removed to be hand-painted, then returned for glazing.

This implies that the artistic quality of the decoration varies, and it is well worth your time to look around and evaluate similar goods before making a final decision. 

See some amazing pottery and wander around this lovely town now.

Address: Deruta, Italy 

Etruscan Tomb 

Etruscan Tomb is one of the best places to go in Perugia, Italy.

See a tomb belonging to a prominent family in ancient times.

Volumnus ancestors appear to have utilized the grave until the first century B.C.

It could be reached through a dromos stairs leading to a stone entrance with inscriptions describing the building’s history and construction. The tomb has ten chambers.

In the tablinum, there are seven urns, six of which are Etruscan and one of which is Roman.

Another significant piece can be found at its center: an ornate piece made of travertine with an impressive figure of the family’s forefather Arnth Velimna Aules in a semi-recumbent position (Arunte Volumnio).

Heads are guarded by two flying demons (lase) on either side of the entryway. Urns portraying the dead and Medusa are also shown on the right side, which belonged to the deceased’s family members.

While excavating a new road in 1840, a tomb was unearthed by accident.

Many national and international tourists came to see the significance of this finding as soon as it was made public.

Visit these tombs now and see the lovely carvings.

Address: Via Assisana, 53, 06126 Perugia PG, Italy

Fontana Maggiore and Piazza IV Novembre

Fontana Maggiore and Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia, Italy
Fontana Maggiore and Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia, Italy / Allan Parsons / Flickr

This beautiful fountain is located in the equally beautiful heart of the city.

The 13th-century Fontana Maggiore, located in the heart of Perugia’s charming main square, Piazza IV Novembre, is one of the most exquisite fountains of the time, with reliefs by great Tuscan stone carversNicola and Giovanni Pisano.

Its two multi-sided basins are made of white and pink stone, and a trio of bronze nymphs stands above them, holding an urn from which water flows.

This piazza has traditionally served as the community’s political and social hub: it was the forum during Roman times, and the medieval town was built around the five streets that connect it.

The Archbishop’s Palace with the Museum of Natural History is on the west side of the square, and beyond it is the arched vaulting of the Palazzo del Podesta, which burned down in 1534.

The medieval Via delle Volte runs from Piazza IV Novembre to Piazza Fortebraccio.

Stroll through this lovely plaza now and see the Fontana Manggiore.

Address: Piazza IV Novembre, 06123 Perugia PG, Italy

Galleria Natzionale dell’Umbria

Galleria Natzionale dell’Umbria is one of the best places to go in Perugia, Italy.

See beautiful pieces of art in Umbria’s National Gallery.

Galleria Natzionale dell’Umbriaa houses paintings by Perugino, Pinturicchio, and other Umbrian school artists such as Benedetto Bonfigli and Bartolomeo Caporali.

From the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries, Umbria’s artistic development can be seen, with the greatest eras occurring between those periods.

An unidentified Peruvian artist’s 1272 Crucifix, five Arnolfo di Cambio sculptures, and Benozzo Gozzoli’s Madonna with Saints, including several other treasures, will be on display for visitors to admire.

Located in the Cappella dei Priori, a Benedetto Bonfigli painting cycle portraying the city of Perugia in the late 15th century can be seen.

In the chapel, you’ll find masterpieces by Perugino, Pinturicchio, and Agostino di Duccio, as well as a polyptych depicting St. Augustine.

Wander their halls filled with amazing art now.

Address: Palazzo dei Priori, Corso Vannucci 19, Perugia

Lake Trasimeno

Lake Trasimeno, Perugia, Italy
Lake Trasimeno, Perugia, Italy / MojoBaron / Flickr

There are lots of things to do at this picturesque lake.

The 128-square-kilometer (49-square-mile) Lake Trasimeno is the centerpiece of the Parco Regionale del Lago Trasimeno, as its name suggests. Depending on the part of the lake you wish to see, the drive from Perugia can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.

Include a boat ride to one of Trasimeno’s two visitable islands, Maggiore and Polvese—covered in woodland and with calm lake beaches to sunbathe on. They make for a relaxing family day out.

Lake Trasimene is well known for being the site of the second Punic War, in which the Carthaginians, led by Hannibal, beat the Romans in 217 BC.

The ancient hamlet of Passignano Sul Trasimeno, above the north side of the lake, has an antique castle; Castiglione del Lago, above the west side of the lake, also has a castle.

Several activities are available on the mainland, ranging from hiking and bicycling trails to wine tours and touring the numerous lakeside villages. Castiglione del Lago, with its jutting out into the sea, is particularly lovely.

Make sure to visit this beautiful lake now.

Address: Lake Trasimeno, Perugia

Monte Tezio

Monte Tezio is one of the best places to go in Perugia, Italy.

Climb up this beautiful mountain for unbelievable views.

Mount Tezio and its neighboring mountain ranges have an unequaled appeal since they are sweet and severe at the same time, and the colors of the Mediterranean maquis adorn their flanks.

Mount Tezio is a 961-meter-high peak north of Perugia that separates the Tiber valley to the east and the hills gradually sloping towards the Trasimeno Lake to the west.

The views span from the center of the Apennine Mountains to the top of Gran Sasso and the expanse of Trasimeno Lake, which is separated from Tuscany by its heights.

The vegetation is diverse and rich, with holm oaks dominating the lowlands and manna ash, hop-hornbeam, downy oak, turkey oak, and maple dominating the heights from Mount Tezio to Mount Acuto (overlooking the town of Umbertide).

The Mediterranean maquis, which includes common and red juniper, hawthorn, thorns, broom, and blackthorn, dominates the foothills. You’ll reach hills with agricultural landscapes, arable crops, and olive trees as you descend.

There are lots to see at Mout Tezio, so make sure to visit.

Address: Monte Tezio, Perugia

Museo Arcologico

Museo Archeologico, Perugia, Italy
Museo Archeologico, Perugia, Italy / Carole Raddato / Flickr

Check out the nation’s leading archeology museum.

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell’Umbria is located near San Domenico and is housed in a former Dominican monastery and is located in Piazza Giordano Bruno.

From ancient beginnings through Roman times, tourists are taken on a historical journey at the refurbished museum in 2009.

A spectacular display of objects from the Umbria province, including Neolithic ceramics, Bronze Age carvings, weaponry, and funeral items from Perugia, and a series of Roman texts, may be seen within the different collections.

The museum’s most valuable object is Cippus Peruvianus, the longest known Etruscan inscription from the third or second century B.C. Funerary urns, goldwork, Etruscan and Roman bronzes, jewelry, and pieces from Hellenistic tombs are among the items in the collection.

On exhibit is a replica of an ancient Etruscan tomb that was unearthed close outside the city.

In this museum, you’ll know about Umbria’s history from beginning to end.

Don’t forget to pay a visit to this museum the next time you’re in Perugia.

Address: Piazza Giordano Bruno, 10, 06121 Perugia PG, Italy

Palazzo dei Priori and Collegio del Cambio

Palazzo dei Priori, Perugia, Italy
Palazzo dei Priori, Perugia, Italy / Allan Parsons / Flickr

This palace is a definite highlight of any Perugia trip.

An enormous Italian Gothic edifice built on the southern side of the cathedral, the Palazzo dei Priori, also called as the Palazzo Comunale, dates back to the late 13th or early 14th century.

Perugia’s 1358 victory over Siena is commemorated by a griffin (the city’s symbol), a bronze lion from 14th-century, and shackles just on the side facing Piazza IV Novembre.

The Grand entryway facing Corso Vannucci leads to Sala de Notari, a lovely first-floor palace room.

Wall paintings from around the 13th century represent biblical and mythological themes in the hall.

In the mid-15th century, the Collegio del Cambio, today a popular tourist destination, was built to the Palazzo dei Priori.

Moreover, the Bankers’ Guild was a significant organization in the city, with a magnificently adorned headquarters and exchange. 

Also, Giampietro Zuccari painted the walls of the Sala de Legisti, and the furniture is made of inlaid wood. 

Check these two amazing Italian structures now.

Address: Corso Vannucci, Perugia

Perugia Chocolate Factory

Perugia Chocolate Factory is one of the best places to go in Perugia, Italy.

Attention, all sweet tooths! Get to live out your choco-dreams here!

Umbria is a major producer of chocolates, including the world-famous Baci. This is a well-known Italian chocolate company known for its outstanding chocolate kisses.

A visit to the plant is one of the best ways to learn more about the history and sample some of the goods.

The Perugina Chocolate Factory, located just outside of town, is a fascinating alternative destination that is fun for the whole family, especially those who enjoy sweets!

At a nearby local shop, you’ll get to observe the chocolate-making process, sample a selection of different chocolates, and try some other traditional products.

At the end of the tour, you’ll have had a chance to sample some of the best chocolate the factory has to offer, and you’ll have had an opportunity to see the manufacturing line in operation.

There is, of course, a souvenir store in which you can buy chocolates.

Go on a tour of the Perugia Chocolate Factory and sample some delectable chocolate.

Address: Viale S. Sisto, 207/C, 06132 Perugia PG, Italy

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Rocca Paolina

Rocca Paolina, Perugia, Italy
Rocca Paolina, Perugia, Italy / Riccardo Cambiassi / Flickr

See this unique underground structure.

One of Perugia’s most intriguing sights is hidden beneath the city’s lovely medieval streets and piazzas.

Its origins date back to 1540, when Pope Paul III, a Farnese family member, commanded the Italian states.

Perugia, ruled by the opposing Baglioni family, was the final city to fall to papal soldiers, and Pope Paul retaliated by ordering the construction of a large fortress on the Colle Landone, the area where the majority of Baglioni buildings and properties were located.

Over 100 residences, churches, tower houses, and monasteries, some dating back to the Etruscan and Roman periods, were demolished, and their stones were used to construct the fortress.

Perugia was not free of papal power until the middle of the nineteenth century when they desecrated the hated symbol of their subjugation.

The vaulted foundations and passageways that were once streets but are now deep beneath are what tourists can view today.

The escalators that connect the Piazzale Partigiani car park or station to Via Baglioni Baglioni make it easy to get to this free attraction. Inside, an amazing art video about Rocca and Perugia’s history is worth viewing.

Have a great time exploring these passages now.

Address:  11, Piazza Italia, 06121 Perugia PG, Italy

San Domenico

San Domenico (belfry), Perugia, Italy
San Domenico (belfry), Perugia, Italy / nox-AM-ruit / Flickr

Experience seeing this splendid basilica.

The uppermost piece of San Domenico’s brick cathedral was destroyed soon after its completion in 1305.

As part of its renovation from 1621 to 1634, the church was remodeled when the nave columns and the pointed arches they supported fell in the year 1614.

The recent renovations and subsequent fire destroyed most of the church’s Gothic features, such as the facade, choir chapels, and the apse’s unusually wide window.

While most of the church’s Baroque ornamentation has been preserved, the building received some modernization during this period.

As a result of its Gothic hall architecture, the subsequent San Lorenzo Cathedral has some resemblance to this church.

This is a definite must-see on your next trip to Perugia.

Address: Piazza Giordano Bruno, Perugia

San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo, Perugia, Ital
San Lorenzo, Perugia, Italy / Glen Bowman / Flickr

This magnificent 15th-century church is surely worth a visit. 

Despite the fact that construction lasted from the laying of the foundation stone in 1345 until 1587, Perugia’s cathedral has an incomplete façade, the 15th-century Gothic hall-church of San Lorenzo.

Only the side wall facing the Fontana Maggiore had the pink and white exterior stone ornamentation completed.

Beautiful 15th-century choir stalls and a 14th-century pulpit made of older stone fragments may be found inside. The 18th-century stucco decorations and faux marble paintings were added when the Mannerist gateway from the neighboring Collegio del Seminario was moved here.

From 1567 to 1569, look for Federico Barocci’s Deposition at the Chapel of San Bernardino. Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi di Pesaro’s 16th-century murals can be found in the sacristy, which can be reached via the chapel to the right of the high altar.

The Trinity, a fresco by Raphael painted in 1505 in the chapel of San Severo, is located east of the cathedral.

Check out the Church of St. Lorenzo on your next trip to Perugia.

Address: Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia

San Pietro

Porta San Pietro, Perugia, Italy
Porta San Pietro, Perugia, Italy / Allan Parsons / Flickr

This 11th-century church has served as a significant power center for Perugia’s rulers.

The church of San Pietro is located outside the Porta San Pietro and was restored in the 12th century using 18 of the original columns.

The stunning Gothic wooden choir stalls, built between 1535 and 1591, are regarded as some of Italy’s finest.

There is an excellent collection of art inside the cathedral, including a colored fresco of Saint George and the Dragon, as well as other Renaissance artworks. 

Beautiful decorations adorn the walls, arches, and ceiling, which are just breathtaking to behold.

The painted and gilded wooden ceiling dates from 1556, and the church is also richly decorated with frescoes and paintings by painters such as Antonio Vassilacchi, Sassoferrato, and Guido Reni, as well as Vasari, Guerricino, and Perugino.

Inlaid furniture and paintings by Perugino, Parmigianino, and Raphael can be found in the sacristy.

The 14th-century Porta San Pietro and the 15th-century outer gate are both lavishly ornamented. The Giardini del Frontone, located southwest of the church, stretches all the way to the Porta San Costanzo and offers stunning views.

See this beautiful church now when in Perugia.

Address: Via Borgo XX Giugno, Perugia

Sant’Arcangelo

Sant’Arcangelo is one of the best places to go in Perugia, Italy.

 Take an enjoyable trip to this quaint location.

Sant’Arcangelo is an Umbrian village with a population of 967 people. Sant’Arcangelo is located northwest of I Fornaciari and northeast of Casalini.

The round church of Sant’Arcangelo, built between the fifth and sixth centuries, is located in the Borgo Sant’Angelo area, near the old northern gate of Porta Sant’Angelo. 16 columns with Corinthian capitals were repurposed from an older pagan temple in this paleo-Christian temple.

The style could be considered early Romanesque with considerable Byzantine elements; there are columns dividing the central nave from the ambulatory around it.

There are some early Christian symbols throughout the church, along with a pentagram at the entryway and crosses in the style of the Knights Templar. 

Windows that had been filled in, as well as the remnants of some early frescoes, were discovered during twentieth-century renovations.

Experience strolling around this church now.

Address: Sant’Arcangelo85037 Province of Potenza, Italy

Sciri Tower 

Sciri Tower, Perugia, Italy
Sciri Tower, Perugia, Italy / Perugiacity.com / Flickr

When it comes to defense towers, size matters.

As a result, visitors who climb its 232 steps are rewarded with spectacular vistas of the city and beyond. Sciri Tower, like so many other landmarks in Perugia, has a colorful and often tragic history.

This majestic tower, located on Via Priori, is one of the city’s tallest structures. The tower, which stands 46 meters tall and once belonged to the Sciri family, was built in the 12th century.

This structure is tremendously important and is a remarkable example of architecture from this period, as it is the only antique tower that remains in its original state.

The tower is commanding despite its modest design, and it is possible to climb to the top for great views of Perugia.

Even if you’re just going for the views, you’ll be in for a treat, especially if you go around sunset.

Don’t forget to check out Sciri Tower for panoramic views of the city.

Address: Via degli Sciri, 06123 Perugia PG, Italy

Studio Moretti Caselli 

Studio Moretti Caselli is one of the best places to go in Perugia, Italy.

Learn how stained glass is made here at this workshop.

Founded in 1859-1860 by Francesco Moretti, a painter and expert glassworker who later collaborated with his nephew, Ludovico Caselli.

The atelier is housed in the Bagliani family’s historic XV century building, which now houses the Sapienza Nuova University College.

You might be curious about how elaborate stained glass is manufactured after admiring it in Italian churches.

Moreover, you can find out about this interesting art form by taking a tour of the studio and workshop of a fifth-generation glassmaking family.

There are guided tours of the Moretti Caselli studio, which has been making stained-glass panels as well as other glass art since 1860, where you can discover a little more about the complete process.

For centuries, kilns and pigment racks have been employed to create some of the most beautiful stained glass windows found in Italy’s churches.

Tuscany’s most fascinating and enlightening tour may well be found here.

Despite the fact that the tour is free, you must book in advance.

Admire beautiful works of art at Studio Moretti Caselli now.

Address: Via Fatebenefratelli, 2, 06121 Perugia PG, Italy

Oratorio di San Bernardino

Oratorio di San Bernardino, Perugia, Italy
Oratorio di San Bernardino, Perugia, Italy / Luke Barrett / Flickr

This stunning oratory houses the city’s most important Rennesaice art examples.

This enormous structure is located in the eastern portion of the old town, about a 10-minute walk from Piazza IV Novembre.

It is considered one of Perugia’s most important Renaissance art examples because of its front façade, which is made of colored polychrome marble.

Agostino di Duccio, best renowned for his work on the Tempio Malatesta in Rimini, designed the spectacular Oratorio di San Bernardino’s facade.

It was built of colored marble, terra-cotta, and limestone from 1457 to 1461.

Moreover, the central arch’s half-round bas relief is the most notable Renaissance masterpiece of Perugia.

These friars constructed an oratory in 1450 to commemorate the canonized preacher San Bernardino of Siena, who had ministered at Perugia.

Also, the oratorio’s interior is equally adorned, with a number of fine artworks and a plethora of gold adornments.

The archaic sarcophagus supports the high altar that connects to the Oratory of St. Andrew.

Come and visit this unique chapel now and marvel at the beautiful art.

Address: Piazza S. Francesco, 5, 06123 Perugia PG, Italy

Via dell’Acquedotto

Via dell’Acquedotto is one of the best places to go in Perugia, Italy.

A waterway turned pathway.

This ancient path was once an aqueduct that carried freshwater around Perugia, but it is now a public walkway.

A historic aqueduct may not appear to be the most fascinating of attractions on paper. But even the most jaded skeptics will be impressed by this 2.5-mile feat of engineering.

It was built to allow water to flow uphill in an inventive way to Piazza IV Novembre’s iconic fountain, Fontana Maggiore.

Today, Via dell’Acquedotto is primarily used as a pedestrian walkway that runs across the city, providing the ideal route for a short stroll.

The entire length of the aqueduct can be walked from the edge of Via Cesare Battisti to the Monastery of San Benedetto.

This lovely road offers a distinct perspective, allowing you to wander through ancient buildings in the old town center while also seeing the aqueduct’s original decorative arches.

Walk through this beautiful pathway now for a different point of view of the city.

Address: Via dell’Acquedotto, 06123 Perugia, PG, Italy

Vibiano Wine Tour 

Vibiano Wine Tour is one of the best places to go in Perugia, Italy.

This one is for those luxe travelers.

With a luxury tour that takes you into the heart of Umbria on an exclusive encounter with the proprietors of Monte Vibiano Castle, you can enjoy the beauty, history, wine, and cuisine of the region.

Take in the breathtaking vistas from every angle and stop for a cappuccino in Todi before continuing to the Monte Vibiano estate.

At the Monte Vibiano winery, meet an expert guide for a welcome drink and a tour of the facility.

Depart the vineyard for a lovely journey through old olive groves to the evocative Vigna Lorenzo, which dates back to the Carthaginians’ defeat against the Romans in 217 BC under Hannibal.

Discover the traditions and legends that abound in this stunning land, where the Fasola-Bologna family spearheaded Italy’s green revolution in manufacturing carbon-neutral wine and olive oil.

Leave Vigna Lorenzo and travel to the 2,000-year-old Monte Vibiano for a special Umbrian meal. Enjoy a multi-course lunch made by the Castle’s historic chefs and complemented with great wines.

You will drink wine from the Vigna Lorenzo vineyard as a special treat, which is generally reserved for members of the vineyard’s wine club.

You will be able to shop for wine and olive oil that may be shipped directly to your home at the Cantina Monte Vibiano winery.

Have an experience of a lifetime, all while sipping wine now at Monte Vibiano. 

Is there anything else holding you back from making Perugia, Italy, your next vacation destination? Click here for why visit Perugia, Italy, at least once in your lifetime here.

Address:  Località Monte Vibiano Vecchio, 06055 Monte Vibiano Vecchio PG, Italy

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