LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Perugia: City
built 140 days ago
For most tourists, the center, or downtown, of Perugia will be the most rewarding place to eat either lunch or dinner. The main street 'walk' begins at the Piazza Duomo at the Fontana Maggiore and ends with a dramatic overlook that showcases the city's churches and the Umbrian countryside. There are many dining options along this street. The last hotel on the right hand side before reaching the overlook offers five star accommodation and regional dishes, specializing in legumes and fantastic olive oils. At the other end of the walk, just to the right of the Duomo, is a charming pizzeria, La Mediterranea. It is comprised of two rooms, the first with a brick oven and a buffet where an expert pizzaiolo slides freshly topped pizzas onto the stone hearth.
Source:
The largest city in beautiful Umbria, vibrant Perugia is a delight for both gourmet tourists and culture vultures. There is a buzzing medieval center, wonderful art and monuments and excellent restaurants & chocolate makers. There is ... a youthful student atmosphere as Perugia hosts many International exchange students. Cosmopolitan and forward-thinking, especially when compared to the overwhelmingly rural region surrounding it, Perugia is an imminently walkable city whose history is visible at every turn. With its Etruscan ruins, Roman mosaics, medieval defense towers, and Renaissance palaces, Perugia is a living museum. Along with Bologna, Perugia is considered to have some of Italy’s happiest residents and there is an extremely high quality of life in this lovely town.
Source:
Perched upon a hilltop, Perugia's elevation makes for some dramatic views of the surrounding Umbrian landscape, and is the region's capital. The ancient Etruscans, who settled here as early as 310 BC, left behind many clues of their culture and way of life. Of them, the most recognized are the remarkably preserved sections of their city walls that once acted as a barrier from the outside world. Architecture buffs are further satiated by the city's many churches (totalling nearly four dozen). Notable among them are the Duomo of San Lorenzo, Basilica of San Domenico and the Church of San Severo. Also high on Perugia's list of must see attractions is the Rocca Paolina, a Renaissance fortress.
Source:
Once an important Etruscan city, Perugia hides traces of its past in its ancient architecture. Several buildings remain from this period, such as the Etruscan Arch and the Etruscan Well. Romans captured the city in 40 B.C. under Emperor Octavian, who renamed the city "Augusta Perusia." When the Roman Empire fell, the city emerged as an independent town with its own council, though this became plagued by squabbles between dynasties. Eventually Pope Paul III gained power over the city, and only relinquished his rule in 1860, the year Italy was unified.
Source:
In 1832, 1838, 1854 and 1997 Perugia was visited by earthquakes; Following the collapse of the Roman republic of 1848-49, when the Rocca was in part demolished[19], in May 1849 it was seized by the Austrians. In the June of 1859 the inhabitants rebelled against the temporal authority of the Pope and established a provisional government but the insurrection was bloodily defeated by Pius IX's troops[21]. In the September of 1860 the city was finally united, along with the rest of Umbria, to the Kingdom of Italy.
Source:
Perugia is a capital city in a medieval hill town's clothing -- a town of Gothic palaces and jazz cafes, where ancient alleys of stone drop precipitously off a 19th-century shopping promenade. It produced and trained some of Umbria's finest artists, including Gentile da Fabriano and Perugino (born Pietro Vannucci in nearby Città della Pieve), from whose workshop emerged Pinturicchio, Lo Spagna, and Raphael. It's a respected university city whose student population ensures a lively cultural calendar. After a long and bloody history, Perugia seems to have settled well into its role as capital of Umbria.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
City