Perugia, a paradise waiting to be discovered

Perugia is the capital of the region of Umbria, a leafy green lung at the heart of Italy. It’s an area of extraordinary natural beauty, full of villages and landscapes straight out of a fairytale. And all this is complemented by a cultural heritage that draws on deep-rooted artistic and religious traditions.

It’s a part of Italy hardly touched by tourism and has retained the authentic atmosphere so sought-after by modern travellers. Visiting the region is like taking a trip back in time, thanks to the narrow streets of its medieval towns, its castles, sumptuous palaces and military fortresses.

But before we head into the city itself, it’s worth taking time to highlight some of the region’s natural attractions. One essential visit is the Lake Trasimeno natural park, the largest in Central Italy, with its three beautiful islands, Polvese, Maggiore and Minore. The lake’s setting is idyllic, surrounded by gently contoured hills where numerous trails can be explored by bicycle, on foot or horseback.

For travellers with a craving for adrenaline and subterranean adventures, Monte Cucco is the ideal location to go caving and discover the mysteries of the underground world. There are also plenty of more accessible outdoor activities, from bicycle touring to hiking, cross-country skiing in winter, angling and more.

There’s yet more to be discovered before we make our way into the city’s historic centre. Still in the surrounding areas, there’s the Franciscan Path of Peace, an important pilgrimage route for the faithful, which passes only twenty minutes away, through Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis, patron saint of peace in Europe and practically the whole world.

Re-entering the city we find a veritable oasis for art lovers, crammed with Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance treasures in an outstanding state of preservation. The centre of the centre is almost wholly medieval, perhaps one of the most beautiful and best conserved in Italy.

Must-sees include the San Domenico Basilica, the cloisters of the Archaeological National Museum of Umbria and the Piazza Matteotti, popularly known as Spramuro. We’d also recommend the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, on the Piazza IV Novembre, one of the most impressive medieval palaces in the country. And we couldn’t leave out the San Lorenzo Cathedral, whose main façade looks out over the Piazza Danti, an essential stop – and one where your camera just won’t stop clicking. Another of the region’s big attractions is its traditional cuisine, made from locally produced ingredients, as well as its wines with their own geographical certificate of origin. But that’s another story, which we’ll be looking at in depth another time…