Things to Do in Perugia: Old Town Sights and Tips

Perugia’s best sights are packed into a walkable old town on top of a hill: start at Piazza IV Novembre with the Fontana Maggiore and the cathedral, see the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria in the Palazzo dei Priori, walk down through the underground streets of the Rocca Paolina and finish at the Etruscan Arch. One day covers the essentials; two days give you time for the quieter quarters and the evening life of a university city.

Corso Vannucci and Piazza IV Novembre

Corso Vannucci is the spine of the old town, a broad, mostly flat street that runs from Piazza Italia to Piazza IV Novembre. In the early evening it fills with students, families and visitors for the passeggiata, and it is the easiest place to get your bearings.

At its northern end, Piazza IV Novembre brings together three landmarks. The Fontana Maggiore, a medieval fountain with carved panels by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, stands in the middle. The Cathedral of San Lorenzo closes one side; its unfinished flank faces the square, and the steps are a popular place to sit. Opposite rises the Palazzo dei Priori, the medieval town hall, with its Gothic doorway and the griffin, the city’s emblem.

Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria

The upper floors of the Palazzo dei Priori hold the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, the region’s most important art collection. It traces Umbrian painting from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, with works by Perugino, Pinturicchio, Piero della Francesca and Fra Angelico. Allow at least two hours. If Renaissance painting is the reason for your trip, read our guide to Renaissance art and music in Umbria first. Opening hours and tickets are published on the gallery’s website.

In the same building, the Collegio del Cambio, the old money changers’ guild hall, is decorated with frescoes by Perugino and his workshop. It is small, so a visit takes around half an hour.

Rocca Paolina and the underground streets

The Rocca Paolina was a papal fortress built in the 16th century over an entire medieval quarter. Much of the fortress was later demolished, but the buried streets, houses and vaults survive underneath Piazza Italia. The escalators from Piazza Partigiani run straight through them, so many visitors pass through without realising what they are walking under. Take time to explore the side passages; entry to the lanes is free.

Etruscan Perugia

Perugia was an Etruscan city long before it was Roman. The Arco Etrusco (also called the Arch of Augustus) is a massive city gate on the northern edge of the old town, with Piazza Fortebraccio below it. Nearby, the Pozzo Etrusco is a deep Etruscan well you can visit by stairs. For finds from tombs and settlements, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell’Umbria is housed in the former convent of San Domenico, south of the centre.

Quieter corners worth the walk

• Via dell’Acquedotto: a raised pedestrian path along an old aqueduct, with views over rooftops.
• Via Maestà delle Volte: a vaulted medieval lane just off the main square.
• Corso Garibaldi and the Tempio di Sant’Angelo: a long, residential street leading to an early round church near the northern gate.
• Oratorio di San Bernardino: a small church with a finely carved Renaissance façade.
• San Pietro: a Benedictine abbey church at the southern end of the ridge, richly decorated inside, with a garden behind it.
• Giardini Carducci: the terrace at the end of Piazza Italia, the classic spot for sunset views over the valley towards Assisi.

A suggested one-day route

Time	What to do
Morning	Arrive at Pincetto or Piazza Partigiani, walk up through the Rocca Paolina, coffee on Corso Vannucci
Late morning	Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria and Collegio del Cambio
Lunch	A trattoria in the lanes off Piazza IV Novembre
Afternoon	Cathedral, Via Maestà delle Volte, Etruscan Arch and Pozzo Etrusco
Evening	Passeggiata on Corso Vannucci, sunset at Giardini Carducci

On a second day, walk south to San Pietro and the archaeological museum, or head north along Corso Garibaldi.

Practical tips

Getting up the hill: do not try to drive into the old town, which is a restricted traffic zone. Park at Pian di Massiano and take the Minimetrò, or use the car parks linked to escalators. Our guide to getting around Perugia without a car explains the options.

Where to stay: sleeping in the old town makes evenings easy, but check parking and stairs. See where to stay in Perugia.

Events: Umbria Jazz in July and Eurochocolate in autumn transform the town. Both are worth planning around, either to join in or to avoid the crowds.

Food: look for torta al testo (a griddle flatbread with fillings) and local cured meats. Perugia is also home to a long chocolate tradition.

Beyond the city

Perugia works well as a base. Assisi, Spello, Gubbio and Lake Trasimeno are all reachable as day trips; see our list of day trips from Perugia. For more on the region, start at the Perugia section.