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Perugia (, , ; lat, Perusia) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber, and of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area. The region of Umbria is bordered by Tuscany, Lazio, and
Marche Marche ( , ) is one of the twenty regions of Italy. In English, the region is sometimes referred to as The Marches ( ). The region is located in the central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the ...
. The history of Perugia goes back to the Etruscan period; Perugia was one of the main Etruscan cities. The city is also known as the universities town, with the University of Perugia founded in 1308 (about 34,000 students), the University for Foreigners (5,000 students), and some smaller colleges such as the Academy of Fine Arts "Pietro Vannucci" ( it, Accademia di Belle Arti "Pietro Vannucci") public athenaeum founded in 1573, the Perugia University Institute of Linguistic Mediation for translators and interpreters, the Music Conservatory of Perugia, founded in 1788, and other institutes. Perugia is also a well-known cultural and artistic centre of Italy. The city hosts multiple annual festivals and events, e.g., the Eurochocolate Festival (October), the Umbria Jazz Festival (July), and the International Journalism Festival (in April), and is associated with multiple notable people in the arts. Painter Pietro Vannucci, nicknamed Perugino, was a native of Città della Pieve, near Perugia. He decorated the local ''Sala del Cambio'' with a series of
fresco Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaste ...
es; eight of his pictures can also be seen in the National Gallery of Umbria. Perugino was the teacher of Raphael, the great Renaissance artist who produced five paintings in Perugia (today no longer in the city) and one fresco. Another painter, Pinturicchio, lived in Perugia. Galeazzo Alessi is the most famous architect from Perugia. The city's symbol is the
griffin The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Ancient Greek: , ''gryps''; Classical Latin: ''grȳps'' or ''grȳpus''; Late Latin, Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a legendary creature with the body, tail ...
, which can be seen in the form of plaques and
statue A statue is a free-standing sculpture in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or cast in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone. Typical statues are life-sized or close to life-size; a sculpture t ...
s on buildings around the city. It is also the symbol of the local football club A.C. Perugia, who have previously played in the Serie A.


History

Perugia was an Umbrian settlementPerugia (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved May 21, 2007, fro
Encyclopædia Britannica Online
/ref> but first appears in written history as ''
Perusia The ancient Perusia, now Perugia, first appears in history as one of the 12 confederate cities of Etruria. It is first mentioned in the account of the war of 310 or 309 BC between the Etruscans and the Romans. It took, however, an important par ...
'', one of the 12
confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between ...
cities of
Etruria Etruria () was a region of Central Italy, located in an area that covered part of what are now most of Tuscany, northern Lazio, and northern and western Umbria. Etruscan Etruria The ancient people of Etruria are identified as Etruscan civiliza ...
; it was first mentioned in Q. Fabius Pictor's account, used by Livy, of the expedition carried out against the
Etruscan League The Etruscan civilization () was developed by a people of Etruria in ancient Italy with a common language and culture who formed a federation of city-states. After conquering adjacent lands, its territory covered, at its greatest extent, roug ...
by
Fabius Maximus Rullianus Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus (or Rullus), son of Marcus Fabius Ambustus (consul 360 BC), Marcus Fabius Ambustus, of the Patrician (ancient Rome), patrician Fabii of ancient Rome, was five times Roman consul, consul and a hero of the Samnite ...
in 310 or 309 BC. At that time a thirty-year '' indutiae'' (truce) was agreed upon; however, in 295 Perusia took part in the Third Samnite War and was forced, with Volsinii and Arretium (
Arezzo Arezzo ( , , ) , also ; ett, 𐌀𐌓𐌉𐌕𐌉𐌌, Aritim. is a city and ''comune'' in Italy and the capital of the province of the same name located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about southeast of Florence at an elevation of above sea level. ...
), to seek for peace in the following year. In 216 and 205 BC, it assisted Rome in the
Second Punic War The Second Punic War (218 to 201 BC) was the second of three wars fought between Carthage and Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. For 17 years the two states struggled for supremacy, primarily in Ital ...
, but afterwards it is not mentioned until 41–40 BC, when
Lucius Antonius Lucius Antonius is a combination of ''praenomen'' and family name ''( nomen)'' used by ancient Roman men from a plebeian branch of the '' gens Antonia,'' including: * Lucius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony) * Lucius Antonius (grandson of Mark Ant ...
took refuge there, and was defeated by Octavian after a long siege, and its senators sent to their deaths. A number of lead bullets used by slingers have been found in and around the city. The city was burnt, we are told, with the exception of the temples of Vulcan and
Juno Juno commonly refers to: *Juno (mythology), the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods *Juno (film), ''Juno'' (film), 2007 Juno may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional characters *Juno, in the film ''Jenny, Juno'' *Ju ...
—the massive Etruscan terrace-walls, naturally, can hardly have suffered at all—and the town, with the territory for a mile round, was allowed to be occupied by whoever chose. It must have been rebuilt almost at once, for several bases for statues exist, inscribed ''Augusto sacr(um) Perusia restituta''; but it did not become a '' colonia'', until 251–253 AD, when it was resettled as ''Colonia Vibia Augusta Perusia'', under the emperor C. Vibius Trebonianus Gallus. It is hardly mentioned except by the geographers until it was the only city in Umbria to resist Totila, who captured it and laid the city waste in 547, after a long siege, apparently after the city's Byzantine garrison evacuated. Negotiations with the besieging forces fell to the city's bishop, Herculanus, as representative of the townspeople. Totila is said to have ordered the bishop to be flayed and beheaded. St. Herculanus (Sant'Ercolano) later became the city's patron saint. In the Lombard period, Perugia is spoken of as one of the principal cities of Tuscia. In the 9th century, with the consent of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious, it passed under the popes; but by the 11th century, its commune was asserting itself, and for many centuries the city continued to maintain an independent life, warring against many of the neighbouring lands and cities—
Foligno Foligno (; Southern Umbrian: ''Fuligno'') is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system. It is located so ...
,
Assisi Assisi (, also , ; from la, Asisium) is a town and ''comune'' of Italy in the Province of Perugia in the Umbria region, on the western flank of Monte Subasio. It is generally regarded as the birthplace of the Latin poet Propertius, born aroun ...
, Spoleto, Todi, Siena,
Arezzo Arezzo ( , , ) , also ; ett, 𐌀𐌓𐌉𐌕𐌉𐌌, Aritim. is a city and ''comune'' in Italy and the capital of the province of the same name located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about southeast of Florence at an elevation of above sea level. ...
, etc. In 1186, Henry VI, ''rex romanorum'' and future emperor, granted diplomatic recognition to the consular government of the city; afterward, Pope Innocent III, whose major aim was to give state dignity to the dominions having been constituting the
patrimony of St. Peter The Patrimony of Saint Peter ( la, Patrimonium Sancti Petri) originally designated the landed possessions and revenues of various kinds that belonged to the apostolic Holy See (the Pope) i.e. the "Church of Saint Peter" in Rome, by virtue of the ap ...
, acknowledged the validity of the imperial statement and recognised the established civic practices as having the force of law.cf. ''Perugia'', Raffaele Rossi, Attilio Bartoli Angeli, Roberta Sottani 1993 (Vol. 1, pp. 120–140) On various occasions, the popes found asylum from the tumults of Rome within its walls, and it was the meetingplace of five conclaves ( Perugia Papacy), including those that elected Honorius III (1216),
Clement IV Pope Clement IV ( la, Clemens IV; 23 November 1190 – 29 November 1268), born Gui Foucois ( la, Guido Falcodius; french: Guy de Foulques or ') and also known as Guy le Gros ( French for "Guy the Fat"; it, Guido il Grosso), was bishop of Le P ...
(1265), Celestine V (1294), and Clement V (1305); the papal presence was characterised by a pacificatory rule between the internal rivalries. But Perugia had no mind simply to subserve the papal interests and never accepted papal sovereignty; the city used to exercise a jurisdiction over the members of the clergy, moreover in 1282, Perugia was excommunicated due to a new military offensive against the Ghibellines regardless of a papal prohibition. On the other hand, side by side with the 13th-century bronze griffin of Perugia above the door of the Palazzo dei Priori stands, as a Guelphic emblem, the
lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...
, and Perugia remained loyal for the most part to the Guelph party in the struggles of
Guelphs and Ghibellines The Guelphs and Ghibellines (, , ; it, guelfi e ghibellini ) were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in the Italian city-states of Central Italy and Northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, ri ...
, but this dominant tendency was rather an anti-Germanic and Italian political strategy. The Angevin presence in Italy appeared to offer a counterpoise to papal powers; in 1319, Perugia declared the Angevin Saint Louis of Toulouse "Protector of the city's sovereignty and of the Palazzo of its Priors" and set his figure among the other patron saints above the rich doorway of the Palazzo dei Priori. Midway through the 14th century
Bartholus of Sassoferrato Bartolus de Saxoferrato (Italian: ''Bartolo da Sassoferrato''; 131313 July 1357) was an Italian law professor and one of the most prominent continental jurists of Medieval Roman Law. He belonged to the school known as the commentators or postglos ...
, who was a renowned jurist, asserted that Perugia was dependent upon neither imperial nor papal support. In 1347, at the time of Rienzi's unfortunate enterprise in reviving the Roman republic, Perugia sent 10 ambassadors to pay him honour, and when papal legates sought to coerce it by foreign soldiers, or to exact contributions, they met with vigorous resistance, which broke into open warfare with Pope Urban V in 1369; in 1370, the noble party reached an agreement signing the treaty of Bologna, and Perugia was forced to accept a papal legate; however. the vicar-general of the Papal States, Gérard du Puy, Abbot of Marmoutier and nephew of Gregory IX, was expelled by a popular uprising in 1375, and his fortification of Porta Sole was razed to the ground. Civic peace was constantly disturbed in the 14th century by struggles between the party representing the people (''Raspanti'') and the nobles (''Beccherini''). After the assassination in 1398 of Biordo Michelotti, who had made himself lord of Perugia, the city became a pawn in the Italian Wars, passing to
Gian Galeazzo Visconti Gian Galeazzo Visconti (16 October 1351 – 3 September 1402), was the first duke of Milan (1395) and ruled the late-medieval city just before the dawn of the Renaissance. He also ruled Lombardy jointly with his uncle Bernabò. He was the foundi ...
(1400), to Pope Boniface IX (1403), and to Ladislaus of Naples (1408–14), before it settled into a period of sound governance under the '' Signoria'' of the ''
condottiero ''Condottieri'' (; singular ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian captains in command of mercenary companies during the Middle Ages and of multinational armies during the early modern period. They notably served popes and other Europe ...
'' Braccio da Montone (1416–24), who reached a concordance with the papacy. Following mutual atrocities of the Oddi and the Baglioni families, power was at last concentrated in the Baglioni, who though they had no legal position, defied all other authority, though their bloody internal squabbles culminated in a massacre, 14 July 1500.
Gian Paolo Baglioni Gian Paolo Baglioni (c. 1470 – June 1520) was an Italian condottiero and lord of Perugia. He was the son of Rodolfo Baglioni and initially fought mostly in Umbria, especially against the family rivals, the Oddi. In 1498 he was hired by Florence ...
was lured to Rome in 1520 and beheaded by Leo X; and in 1540, Rodolfo, who had slain a papal legate, was defeated by Pier Luigi Farnese, and the city, captured and plundered by his soldiery, was deprived of its privileges. A citadel known as the Rocca Paolina, after the name of
Pope Paul III Pope Paul III ( la, Paulus III; it, Paolo III; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death in November 1549. He came to ...
, was built, to designs of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger "''ad coercendam Perusinorum audaciam''." b In 1797, the city was conquered by French troops. On 4 February 1798, the ''Tiberina Republic'' was formed, with Perugia as capital, and the French
tricolour A tricolour () or tricolor () is a type of flag or banner design with a triband design which originated in the 16th century as a symbol of republicanism, liberty, or revolution. The flags of France, Italy, Romania, Mexico, and Ireland were ...
as flag. In 1799, the Tiberina Republic merged to the Roman Republic. In 1832, 1838, and 1854, Perugia was hit by earthquakes. Following the collapse of the Roman republic of 1848–49, when the Rocca was in part demolished,cf. Touring Club Italiano, ''Guida d'Italia: Umbria'' (1966) it was seized in May 1849 by the Austrians. In June 1859, the inhabitants rebelled against the temporal authority of the pope and established a provisional government, but the insurrection was quashed bloodily by Pius IX's troops. In September 1860, the city was united finally, along with the rest of Umbria, as part of the Kingdom of Italy. During World War II, the city suffered only some damage and was liberated by the
British 8th army The Eighth Army was an Allied field army formation of the British Army during the Second World War, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns. Units came from Australia, British India, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Free French Forces ...
on 20 June 1944.


Economy

Perugia has become famous for chocolate, mostly because of a single firm, Perugina, whose ''Baci'' ("kisses" in English) are widely exported. Perugian chocolate is popular in Italy. The company's plant located in San Sisto (Perugia) is the largest of Nestlé's nine sites in Italy. According to the Nestlé USA official website, today Baci is the most famous chocolate brand in Italy. The city hosts a chocolate festival every October.


Geography

Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria. Cities' distances from Perugia: Assisi , Siena , Florence , Rome .


Climate

Though Perugia is located in the central part of Italy, the city experiences a
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
( Köppen climate classification ''Cfa'') similar to much of Northern Italy due to its inland location and the diverse, hilly topography of Umbria. Typically, summers are warm to hot and humid, while winters are cold with occasional snowfall. The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, with adequate rainfall year-round.


Demographics

In 2007, there were 163,287 people residing in Perugia, located in the province of Perugia, Umbria, of whom 47.7% were male and 52.3% were female. Minors (children ages 18 and younger) totalled 16.41 percent of the population compared to pensioners who number 21.51 percent. This compares with the Italian average of 18.06 percent (minors) and 19.94 percent (pensioners). The average age of Perugia residents is 44 compared to the Italian average of 42. In the five years between 2002 and 2007, the population of Perugia grew by 7.86 percent, while Italy as a whole grew by 3.85 percent. , 90.84% of the population was Italian. The largest immigrant group came from other European countries (particularly from Albania and Romania): 3.93%, the
Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...
: 2.01%, and North African: 1.3%. The majority of inhabitants are Roman Catholic.


Education

Perugia today hosts two main universities, the ancient Università degli Studi (University of Perugia) and the Foreigners University (''Università per Stranieri''). ''Stranieri'' serves as an Italian language and culture school for students from all over the world. Other educational institutions are the Perugia Fine Arts Academy "Pietro Vannucci" (founded in 1573), the Perugia Music Conservatory for the study of classical music, and the RAI Public Broadcasting School of Radio-Television Journalism. The city is also host to the Umbra Institute, an accredited university program for American students studying abroad. The ''Università dei Sapori'' (University of Tastes), a National centre for Vocational Education and Training in Food, is located in the city as well.


Frazioni

The ''comune'' includes the '' frazioni'' of Bagnaia, Bosco, Capanne, Casa del Diavolo, Castel del Piano, Cenerente, Civitella Benazzone,
Civitella d'Arna Civitella d'Arna is a ''frazione'' of the ''comune'' (municipality) of Perugia in central Italy, and the Ancient city and former bishopric Arna, which remains a Latin Catholic titular see. Town What was once an important town but now only a vi ...
, Collestrada, Colle Umberto I, Cordigliano, Colombella, Farneto, Ferro di Cavallo,
Fontignano Fontignano is a frazione of the ''comune'' of Perugia, Italy, located near Lake Trasimeno. The famous High Renaissance painter Pietro Perugino Pietro Perugino (, ; – 1523), born Pietro Vannucci, was an Italian Renaissance painter of the ...
, Fratticiola Selvatica, La Bruna, La Cinella, Lacugnano, Lidarno, Madonna Alta, Migiana di Monte Tezio, Monte Bagnolo, Monte Corneo, Montelaguardia, Monte Petriolo, Mugnano, Olmo, Parlesca, Pianello, Piccione, Pila, Pilonico Materno, Piscille, Ponte della Pietra, Poggio delle Corti, Ponte Felcino, Ponte Pattoli, Ponte Rio,
Ponte San Giovanni Ponte San Giovanni is a ''frazione'' of the city of Perugia, Italy. It has 13,296 inhabitants and is one of the largest and most populated neighbourhoods in the capital city of Umbria. It is also the seat of the eighth ward of the city of Perugia ...
, Ponte Valleceppi, Prepo, Pretola, Ramazzano-Le Pulci, Rancolfo, Ripa, Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, Sant'Egidio, Sant'Enea, San Fortunato della Collina, San Giovanni del Pantano, Sant'Andrea d'Agliano, Santa Lucia, San Marco, Santa Maria Rossa, San Martino dei Colli, San Martino in Campo, San Martino in Colle, San Sisto, Solfagnano, Villa Pitignano. Other localities are Boneggio, Canneto, Colle della Trinità, Monte Pulito, Montevile, Pieve di Campo, Montemalbe and Monte Morcino. Collestrada, in the territory of the suburb of Ponte San Giovanni, saw a battle between the inhabitants of Perugia and
Assisi Assisi (, also , ; from la, Asisium) is a town and ''comune'' of Italy in the Province of Perugia in the Umbria region, on the western flank of Monte Subasio. It is generally regarded as the birthplace of the Latin poet Propertius, born aroun ...
in 1202.


Main sights


Churches

* '' Cathedral of S. Lorenzo'' * '' San Pietro'': late 16th-century church and abbey. * ''
San Domenico San Domenico may refer to: Catholic saints * Dominic de Guzmán (1170-1221), Spanish priest and founder of the Dominican Order * San Domenico di Sora (951-1031), Italian abbot, patron saint of Villalago Churches * San Domenico, Arezzo (Basilica ...
'': Basilica church of the Dominican order, building began in 1394 and finished in 1458. Before 1234, this site housed markets and a horse fair. The exterior design attributed to Giovanni Pisano, while its interior redecorated in Baroque fashion by Carlo Maderno. The massive belfry was partially cut around the mid-16th century. The interior hosts the splendid tomb of Pope Benedict XI and a wooden choir from the Renaissance period. *'' Sant'Angelo'', also called ''San Michele Arcangelo'': small paleo-Christian church from the 5th–6th centuries. Sixteen antique columns frame circular layout recalling the Roman church of Santo Stefano Rotondo. *'' Sant'Antonio Abate''. *'' San Bernardino'': church with façade by Agostino di Duccio. *'' San Ercolano'': 14th-century church that resembles a polygonal tower. This church once had two floors. Its upper floor was demolished when the Rocca Paolina was built. Baroque interior decorations commissioned from 1607. The main altar has a sarcophagus found in 1609. *'' Santa Giuliana'': church and monastery founded by heir of a female monastery in 1253. In its later years, the church gained a reputation for dissoluteness. Later, the Napoleonic forces turned the church into a granary. Now, the church is a military hospital. The church, with a single nave, bears only traces of 13th century frescoes, which probably used to cover all of the walls. The cloister is a noteworthy example of mid-14th-century Cistercian architecture from . The upper part of the ''
campanile A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...
'' is from the 13th century. *''
San Bevignate San Bevignate is a church in Perugia, Umbria, central Italy. It dates to the mid 13th century, and was expanded by the Knights Templar in the 1280s. It is notable for its 13th-century frescoes. It is named for San Bevignate, the local patron sain ...
'': church of the Templar. * Chiesa of San Prospero. *
Church of the Compagnia della Morte The Church of the Compagnia della Morte or Church of the Compagnia dell'Orazione e della Buona Morte is a church in the center of the Italian city of Perugia. It is located in Piazza Piccinino (number 3), a few steps from the Cathedral, in the dist ...
.


Secular buildings

* The Palazzo dei Priori (Town Hall, encompassing the Collegio del Cambio, Collegio della Mercanzia, and Galleria Nazionale), one of Italy's greatest buildings. The Collegio del Cambio has frescoes by Pietro Perugino, while the Collegio della Mercanzia has a fine later 14th century wooden interior. ** Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, the National Gallery of Umbrian art in Middle Ages and Renaissance (it includes works by Duccio, Piero della Francesca, Beato Angelico, Perugino) * ''
Fontana Maggiore The ''Fontana Maggiore'', a masterpiece of medieval sculpture, placed in the centre of Piazza IV Novembre (formerly Piazza Grande), is the monument symbol of the city of Perugia. History The monumental fountain was designed by Frà Bevignate ...
'', a medieval fountain designed by Fra Bevignate and sculpted by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano. * Chapel of ''San Severo'', which retains a fresco painted by Raphael"...some studies for the figure of St. John the Martyr which Raphael used in 1505 in his great fresco in the Church of San Severo at Perugia." ( The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci (X) and Perugino. * the ''Rocca Paolina'', a Renaissance fortress (1540–1543) of which only a bastion today is remaining. The original design was by
Antonio Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular male ...
and Aristotile da Sangallo, and included the ''Porta Marzia'' (3rd century BC), the tower of
Gentile Baglioni Gentile () is a word that usually means "someone who is not a Jew". Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, sometimes use the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is generally used as a synonym for ...
's house and a medieval cellar. *
Orto Botanico dell'Università di Perugia The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Perugia (20,000 m²) is a botanical garden operated by the University of Perugia. It is located at Borgo XX Giugno 74, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, and open to the public daily. Today's garden was established in 196 ...
, the university's botanical garden *
Palazzo Donini Palazzo Donini is an Italian noble palace of the 18th century located in Perugia in Piazza Italia 96, it's the centre of the Regional Council of Region of Umbria. Characteristics Built from 1716 to 1724 by an unknown architect, the tradition ...
, the centre of the Regional Council of Region of Umbria.


Antiquities

* the ''
Ipogeo dei Volumni image:Hypogeum cyark 3.jpg, 240px, Interior of the tomb The Hypogeum of the Volumnus family (Italian: ''Ipogeo dei Volumni'') is an Etruscans, Etruscan tomb in Ponte San Giovanni, a suburb of Perugia, Umbria, central Italy. Its dating is uncertain, ...
'' (Hypogeum of the Volumnus family), an Etruscan chamber tomb *
Etruscan Well The Etruscan Well, also known as "Sorbello well" from the name of the noble family which still owns the mansion which includes the structure, is located in the old town of Perugia. Entrance to the well, currently open to the public as a museum, ...
(''Pozzo Etrusco''). * National Museum of Umbrian Archaeology, where one of the longest inscription in
Etruscan __NOTOC__ Etruscan may refer to: Ancient civilization *The Etruscan language, an extinct language in ancient Italy *Something derived from or related to the Etruscan civilization **Etruscan architecture **Etruscan art **Etruscan cities **Etruscan ...
is conserved, the so-called '' Cippus perusinus''. *
Etruscan Arch The Etruscan Arch or Arch of Augustus or Augustus Gate is one of eight gates in the Etruscan wall of Perusia, known today as Perugia. It is one of the only two surviving gates along with the Porta Marzia to the south.Castex, pp. 1–2 It was co ...
(also known as ''Porta Augusta''), an Etruscan gate with Roman elements.


Modern architecture

* '' Centro Direzionale'' (1982–1986), an administration civic center owned by the Umbria Region. The building was designed by the Pritzker Architecture prizewinner
Aldo Rossi Aldo Rossi (3 May 1931 – 4 September 1997) was an Italian architect and designer who achieved international recognition in four distinct areas: architectural theory, drawing and design and also product design. He was one of the leading exponen ...
.


Art

Perugia has had a rich tradition of art and artists. The High Renaissance painter Pietro Perugino created some of his masterpieces in the Perugia area. The other High Resaissance master Raphael was also active in Perugia and painted his famous Oddi Altar there in 1502–04. Today, the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria in Perugia houses a number of masterpieces, including the '' Madonna with Child and six Angels'', which represents the Renaissance
Marian art Mary has been one of the major subjects of Western Art for centuries. There is an enormous quantity of Marian art in the Catholic Church, covering both devotional subjects such as the Virgin and Child and a range of narrative subjects from the ' ...
of Duccio. And the private
Art collection of Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia The Art Collection of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia is a private collection of artworks, mainly from the region of Perugia, acquired by former financial institution Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia. In 1992, after the passage of the , ...
has two separate locations. The Collegio del Cambio is an extremely well preserved representation of a Renaissance building and houses a magnificent Pietro Perugino fresco. The newly re-opened Academy of Fine Arts has a small but impressive plaster casts gallery and Perugian paintings and drawings from the 16th century on.


Culture

* The Umbria Jazz Festival is one of the most important venues for Jazz in Europe and has been held annually since 1973, usually in July. * Sagra Musicale Umbra is a classical and chamber music festival. * The International Journalism Festival (''Festival del Giornalismo''). * Eurochocolate, chocolate festival and fair usually held in October each year. * Music Fest Perugia, music festival for young talented musicians, usually in the summer. :


Notable people

* Trebonianus Gallus (206–253), Roman emperor *
Aaron the Bookseller Aaron the Bookseller was an Italian dealer in Hebrew and other ancient manuscripts, who flourished at the beginning of the fourteenth century. He spent seven years in Toledo, searching successfully for Arabic and Hebrew books, and was able to circu ...
, dealer in Hebrew and other ancient manuscripts *
Bartolo da Sassoferrato Bartolus de Saxoferrato (Italian: ''Bartolo da Sassoferrato''; 131313 July 1357) was an Italian law professor and one of the most prominent continental jurists of Medieval Roman Law. He belonged to the school known as the commentators or postglos ...
(1314–1357), medieval jurist *
Baldo degli Ubaldi Baldus de Ubaldis (Italian: ''Baldo degli Ubaldi''; 1327 – 28 April 1400) was an Italian jurist, and a leading figure in Medieval Roman Law and the school of Postglossators. Life A member of the noble family of the Ubaldi (Baldeschi), ...
(1327–1400), medieval jurist * Biordo Michelotti (1352–1398), condottiero * Braccio da Montone (1368–1424), condottiero * Matteo da Perugia (fl. 1390–1416), composer *
Niccolò Piccinino Niccolò Piccinino (1386 – 15 October 1444) was an Italian condottiero. Biography He was born in Perugia, the son of a butcher. Piccinino was introduced in the guild of Perugia's butchers. He was later scornfully called "son of a butcher" by ...
(1386–1444), condottiero * Agostino di Duccio (ca. 1418–1481), sculptor * Perugino (1450–1523), painter * Pinturicchio (1454–1513), painter *Giulio III (1487–1555), pope * Galeazzo Alessi (1512–1572), architect *
Vincenzo Danti Vincenzo Danti (1530 – 26 May 1576) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Perugia. His father was an architect and goldsmith, and Vincenzo developed an interest in drawing and goldsmithing. In 1545 he went to Rome to study sculpture and ...
(1530–1576), sculptor and civil engineer * Ignazio Danti (1536–1586), mathematician, cosmographer, and bishop *Giovanni Andrea Angelini Bontempi (1624–1705), composer *Baldassarre Orsini (1732–1820), architect, academic, and art historian *Annibale Mariotti (1738–1801), physician and poet *
Francesco Morlacchi Francesco Giuseppe Baldassare Morlacchi (14 June 1784 – 28 October 1841) was an Italian composer of more than twenty operas. During the many years he spent as the royal Royal Kapellmeister in Dresden, he was instrumental in popularizing the Ita ...
(1784–1841), composer *
Gertrude Prosperi Gertrude Prosperi (19 August 1799 - 13 September 1847) was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious of the Order of Saint Benedict. Prosperi - upon her profession into the Benedictines - assumed the religious name of "Maria Luisa Angelica" a ...
(1799-1847), Roman Catholic professed religious *
Assunta Pieralli Assunta Pieralli (1807–1865) was an Italian poet and teacher who actively supported the Italian unification movement known as the Risorgimento. Life She was born in Lippiano, in the province of Perugia, Italy, to Giuseppe Pieralli and France ...
(1807–1865), poet and teacher *
Luisa Spagnoli Luisa Spagnoli (; ; 30 October 1877, in Perugia – 21 September 1935, in Paris), was an Italian businesswoman, famous for creating a brand of women's clothing company and chocolate factory Perugina. Perugina Spagnoli was born in Perugia in 30 ...
(1877–1935), entrepreneur *
Giuseppe Prezzolini Giuseppe Prezzolini (27 January 1882 – 16 July 1982) was an Italian literary critic, journalist, editor and writer. He later became an American citizen. Biography Prezzolini was born in Perugia in January 1882, to Tuscan parents from Siena, Luig ...
(1882–1982), writer * Gerardo Dottori (1884–1977), painter *
Gabriele Santini Gabriele Santini (20 January 1886, Perugia - 13 November 1964, Rome) was an Italian conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory. He studied in Perugia and Bologna, and made his debut in 1906, as assistant conductor to Gin ...
(1886–1964), orchestral conductor * Aldo Capitini (1899–1968), philosopher *
Sandro Penna Sandro Penna (June 12, 1906 – January 21, 1977) was an Italian poet. Biography Born in Perugia, Penna lived in Rome for most of his life. He never had a regular job, contributing to several newspapers and writing almost only poetry. His first ...
(1906–1977), poet *Walter Binni (1913–1997), literary critic *
Walkiria Terradura Walkiria Terradura (born 9 January 1924) is an Italian anti-fascist partisan who was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valour. Biography One of five children of committed antifascist lawyer Gustavo Terradura and his wife Laura, Terradura ...
(b. 1924), Partisan *Antonietta Stella (b. 1929), soprano *
Giovanni Mirabassi Giovanni Mirabassi is a Paris-based Italian jazz pianist, born 4 May 1970 in Perugia, Italy. Self-taught, he learned by listening to Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) ...
(b. 1970), jazz musician *
Marco Taccucci Marco Taccucci (born 2 February 1977) is an Italian footballer who played for Sporting Terni. Taccucci spent most of his career at Italian ''Lega Pro'', the third and fourth highest level of the pyramid. Biography In 2001, he played a pre-seaso ...
(b. 1977), footballer


Sport

A.C. Perugia Calcio is the main football club in the city, playing in Italy's second-highest division Serie B. The club plays at the 28,000-seat
Stadio Renato Curi The Stadio Renato Curi is a football stadium in the Italian city of Perugia. It is home to A.C. Perugia Calcio. The stadium is named after Renato Curi (1953–1977), who died from a heart attack during a game against Juventus on 30 October 197 ...
, named after a former player who died during a match. From 1983 to 2001, the stadium held four matches for the Italy national football team. Perugia has two water polo teams: L.R.N. Perugia and Gryphus. The team of LRN Perugia is currently in SERIE B (second-highest division) and the Gryphus team is in the SERIE C (the third highest) division. The L.R.N Perugia has also a women's water polo team which is also playing in the division of SERIE B.
Sir Safety Umbria Volley Sir Safety Umbria Volley is a professional Italy, Italian volleyball club based in Perugia. It plays in the highest level of the Italian Volleyball League. In the Italian Volleyball League, the team is known as Sir Safety Susa Perugia, while in th ...
, in English Sir Sicoma Colussi Perugia, is an Italian volleyball club, playing at the top level of the Italian Volleyball League. They won their first Italian championship in 2018. Notable players include Luciano de Cecco of Argentina, Aleksandar Atanasijević of Serbia, and
Wilfredo Leon Wilfredo is a given name which may refer to: *Wilfredo Alicdan (born 1965), Filipino figurative artist *Wilfredo Alvarado (born 1970), Venezuelan football defender *Willy Caballero (born 1981), Argentine football goalkeeper *Wilfredo Caraballo (bor ...
of Poland. The martial arts in Perugia have been present since the sixties with Chinese techniques, followed by judo. Later there were karate contact (later called kickboxing), karate, taijiquan, jūjutsu, kendo, aikido, taekwondo and, in recent years, krav maga has also arrived. In 2014 Jessica Scricciolo, under the Ju-Jitsu Sports Group Perugia, won the title of World Champion in the Fighting System speciality, 55 kg. In March 2015 at the World Championship of Greece (J.J.I.F.) Andrea Calzon' (Ju-Jitsu Sports Group Perugia) won the gold medal in the Ne-Waza (U21.56 kg) and a bronze medal in the Fighting System.


Transport

An electric tramway operated in Perugia from 1901 until 1940. It was decommissioned in favour of buses, and since 1943 trolley buses – the latter were in service until 1975. Two elevators were established since 1971: * Mercato Coperto (Parking) – Terrazza Mercato Coperto * Galleria Kennedy – Mercato Coperto (Pincetto) This was followed by public escalators: * Rocca Paolina: Piazza Partigiani – Piazza Italia (1983) * Cupa-Pellini: Piazzale della Cupa – Via dei Priori (1989) * Piazzale Europa – Piazzale Bellucci (1993) * Piazzale Bellucci – Corso Cavour (1993) * Minimetrò: Pincetto – Piazza Matteotti (2008) Since 1971 Perugia has taken several measures against car traffic, when the first traffic restriction zone was implemented. These zones were expanded over time and at certain hours of the day driving is forbidden in the city centre. Large parking lots are provided in the lower town, from where the city can be reached via public transport. Since 2008, an automated people mover called
Minimetrò MiniMetro is a family of cable propelled automated people mover systems built by HTI Group. The vehicles either run on rails or an air cushion and have either a detachable grip (to the cable) or a fixed grip. Leitner has a test track for the v ...
has also been in operation. It has seven stations, with one terminal at a large parking lot, and the other in the city centre. Perugia railway station, also known as Perugia Fontivegge, was opened in 1866. It forms part of the Foligno–Terontola railway, which also links Florence with Rome. The station is situated at Piazza Vittorio Veneto, in the heavily populated district of Fontivegge, about southwest of the city centre.
Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi – Umbria International Airport Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi – Umbria International Airport ( it, Aeroporto Internazionale dell'Umbria – Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi) , formerly Perugia Sant'Egidio Airport, is an airport serving Perugia,
is located outside the city. From the bus station there has been a daily connection of ITA Airways from 1 December 2022, by bus, to and from
Rome Fiumicino Airport , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...
, allowing a connection with the airline's hub.


Twin towns — sister cities

Perugia is twinned with: *
Aix-en-Provence Aix-en-Provence (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Ais de Provença in classical norm, or in Mistralian norm, ; la, Aquae Sextiae), or simply Aix ( medieval Occitan: ''Aics''), is a city and commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. ...
, France *
Bratislava Bratislava (, also ; ; german: Preßburg/Pressburg ; hu, Pozsony) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Slovakia. Officially, the population of the city is about 475,000; however, it is estimated to be more than 660,000 — approxim ...
, Slovakia, since 1962 *
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
, United States * Potsdam, Germany * Seattle, United States * Tübingen, Germany


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * *


Further reading

*


External links

*
Official Perugia tourism website
{{Authority control Etruscan cities Hilltowns in Umbria Roman sites of Umbria Renaissance architecture in Umbria Baroque architecture in Umbria