Hello friends, in this post I’ll continue to talk about our summer vacation at Lake Trasimeno in Italy. Located in the Umbria region, Trasimeno is one of the largest lakes in Italy. We spent a few days of this holiday in Perugia. As usual according to my favorite plan we toured the old city, visited temples, palaces, museums, castles and squares. We had some food and left before sunset.
Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts within our family during this vacation we had to leave early. Nevertheless we found some time to stroll around the old town and I had the chance to take photos along the way. In this post I wanted to describe a tour of Perugia’s old town on a warm August day. This time we didn’t follow a specific plan or set mandatory stops. We just found a parking spot walked into the city and started exploring the streets. Somehow we managed to reach the main square.
If I visit Perugia again I probably won’t remember the route I took during this summer vacation, so I’ll need to rediscover the city. This time we came in our own car, parked at Seba parking and then walked up to the old town. We wandered through the streets, strolled around the squares, admired the views from the terraces, visited the National Gallery of Umbria and had a snack in the main square beside the cathedral. Now I want to share my impressions of my trip to Perugia with you.
When I talk about Perugia I remember a friend I met years ago who had lived in this city for a few years. According to her the city was very boring and she was an ambitious person eager to move north to a bigger city like Milan with more activity. Considering her impressions of Perugia, I didn’t expect too much from the city. But I realized I was wrong. I loved Perugia probably because I stayed away from its industrial areas and only explored the old city center.
Since Perugia is situated on a hill at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level, you constantly walk up and down slopes. One of these intriguing streets, Via Acquedotto, ends with an arch also known as Porta Cornea. The hilltop location offers breathtaking views, with mountain landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see at the end of some streets or from lookout terraces. We visited a few different vantage points, enjoying the views of old rooftops, mountains and the National Gallery.
I love places like this: mountains, open spaces, narrow streets with historical textures and terracotta rooftops. I take great pleasure in observing the grand yet simple appearance of the buildings, the natural colors of the stone walls convey the warmth and sincerity of these old streets. I find this feeling very enjoyable. I love places like this and in this sense, Perugia really made me happy. At the highest point of the old town, at Porta Sole which stands 500 meters above sea level the center of Perugia begins. The city gathers around Porta Sole and expands over the hills, encompassing five medieval neighborhoods and five ancient gates: Porta Sole, Porta San Angelo, Porta San Susanna, Porta Eburnea and Porta San Pietro.
Perugia located in the heart of Italy is one of the most beautiful and significant cities, long regarded as an important center for art throughout history. It was a powerful hub during the Etruscan period and the Middle Ages and today still bears traces of its glorious past. Currently it has a population of around 162000 and hosts a prestigious university that has been in existence for over 700 years. And Perugia is home to an Academy of Fine Arts, a conservatory and a university for foreigners. The city regularly holds theater seasons and music festivals.
The main entrance to the city center is Rocca Paolina, a unique historical and architectural complex that locals and students alike enjoy gathering around. We wandered around the city on a bright, warm summer day. The squares were filled with restaurant tables and people were enjoying meals with friends, relaxing in the shade. A visit to Perugia is a unique experience, enriched by its vibrant museums, art studios, delicious cuisine and stunning views of the Umbrian valley. I loved everything about it. My only disappointment was that I couldn’t see many interesting places. I didn’t have time to visit places like the Carducci Gardens, the Etruscan Well, Perugia’s underground cities and the Paolina Fortress.
As we left the museum I saw that the cathedral had closed for lunch. Seeing it closed left me feeling incomplete as if something remained unfinished. I truly wish to return to Perugia one day. to see the cathedral tour some of the basilicas and explore the fortress, gardens and underground cities.
If you visit Perugia don't allocate just 2-3 hours for your tour. Set aside at least a full day so you can visit the museums, the cathedral and those mysterious underground cities. Make sure you have enough time to browse the shops and art studios. This time there was another place I wanted to visit: Grand Italia Outlet a store selling plus-size clothing. We drove past it a few times and I wanted to go in, look around, try things on and perhaps buy something. But we didn’t have time for it on this trip. So there’s another reason to return to Perugia. Perhaps it would be even better to go with a friend next time.
One of the most impactful experiences during this trip was visiting the National Gallery of Umbria. The National Gallery is displayed on the upper floors of Palazzo dei Priori, located in the heart of the Old City. This medieval palace also serves as the residence of the Perugia city council. The National Gallery of Umbria holds one of Italy's richest art collections, recounting the history of Perugia. It exhibits works ranging from the 13th to the 19th century. Just touring this space can take several hours because there’s so much to see. This was an unforgettable journey into the art and cultural history of Umbria and all of Italy. Outside of the permanent exhibit, the gallery also featured a fascinating painting by Klimt titled The Ages of Woman. In one room you could view the painting and in the adjacent room, there was a free film about the artist and the creation of this work. Access to the film and the painting was included in the museum admission. The piece was truly stunning. Learning about its creation gave me a different perspective on the painting. it was a deeply moving experience. A magnificent piece adding even more cherished memories to my visit to Perugia.
One marvelous ancient icon in the Perugia museum left an impression on me. Dating back to around 1330 it is titled Madonna and Child Enthroned by Marino di Limoges. It features Madonna, the infant Jesus, saints Paolo and Pietro and four angels. It is a traditional icon in which all faces are drawn in the same way: the faces of Madonna, Jesus and the saints are identical, differing only in hairstyle an blush. It’s as if one person posed for all the figures! The gold leaf on this icon, painted on wood is still preserved.
It’s such an intriguing museum. The exhibit features numerous icons and iconostases. The only thing missing in my opinion, was an audio guide. Many museums offer them. But there wasn’t one here. With an audio guide, you can easily listen to and learn the most interesting facts. Visiting this museum with a guide might be more beneficial.
There are so many beautiful pieces, all genuinely impressive. During this holiday, we visited several other cities and I’ll share them soon. Goodbye for now!