Things To Do In Italy

PERUGIA, UMBRIA

Perugia is a medieval walled hill town with historic buildings, people-filled squares, and modern shops. It's home to a university and a large Italian language school for foreigners. Etruscan remains are still visible in several places, too. Perugia has a lot to offer the traveler and is a good base for visiting other hill towns in Umbria such as Assisi, Spello, and Gubbio.

Perugia is very nearly at the exact center of Italy. It is the capital of the Umbria region, known as the "Green Heart of Italy".

Perugia has taken drastic measures against car traffic. At certain hours of the day, driving is forbidden in the city center. Large parking lots are provided in the lower town, from where escalators lead up through the Rocca Paolina into the city. Since 2008, a Mini Metro is also in operation, with seven stations.

Perugina is an Italian confectionery company based in Perugia.

The company was formed in 1907 and was was introduced to the U.S.A at the 1939 world Trade Fair in New York, and has since become known for fine chocolate around the world.

The company produces a wide array of chocolate and food products, including chocolate bars, hard candy, nougat and biscotti.

Their most famous product are the Baci chocolate "kisses" filled with hazelnut wrapped in a multilingual (may contain Italian, English, French, German, Greek, Spanish or Portuguese) love note.

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 famousOddi Altar there in 1502-1504.

Today, the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria in Perugia houses a number of masterpieces, including the Madonna with Child and six Angels. And the privateArt Collection of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia 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

As it is home to the famous Baci chocolates, is often called the Chocolate City. Perugia also has the world's first hotel dedicated to chocolate, the Hotel di Perugia Etruscan Chocohotel.

FESTIVALS

Perugia is famous for chocolate and holds its chocolate festival in mid-October.

The Umbrian Jazz festival takes place all over Umbria but is centred on Perugia, with a large number of concerts both free and with admission fee. Over the years the Festival has attracted just about every famous jazz player. The Festival takes place for a week and two weekends in the middle of July every year. During this period Perugia has a really beautiful atmosphere, with jazz concerts in the center of the city

Classic Perugia, in late September, includes concerts, exhibitions, and classes.

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Cities' distances from Perugia: Assisi 19 km, Siena 102 km, Florence 145 km, Rome 164 km.

WHERE-Perugia, Umbria.

HOW TO GET THERE-

Fly-The airport in Rome is three hours away (see the By bus section for transportation) and Milan's Malpensa airport about 7 hours away.

Perugia has a small regional airport with connecting service to Milan and flights from London and Barcelona on Ryanair. A little further away, Pisa and Bologna are served by low cost European airlines.

Bus-Buses from Rome Fumicino Airport depart from the lower level parking area at regular intervals (3 hours, 20 €)

Train-The train station is in the valley, a few kilometers from the centro storico(historic center) of the city. You can take the Mini Metro railway, a local bus or a taxi from the station. From Rome to Perugia by train is only 10.50€ if you take Tren Regionale otherwise it's double.