Perugia Cathedral

Perugia is a city full of charms and history. Every ancient gate, alley, piazza, palazzo and church will capture your imagination; and every museum and gallery will impress you with a sense of history, culture and art. Perugia is not just a stuffy old showcase of the ancient, it also has a young, vibrant and energetic feel. Perugia is the site of many festivals and concerts, the most important of which are the annual fall Chocolate festival and the summer Umbria Jazz festival, lending the city to a chic and urbane atmosphere unmatched by other Italian cities. Meeting point will be at Piazza Italia, from there you will go first exploring the different strata of Rocca Paolina – the so called 'Perugia underground.' Once back to the city center, there will be a stop at a famous old-fashioned but traditional coffee shop for an espresso or a cappuccino topped with hand-whipped cream. The tour will focus on the main fountain – Fontana Maggiore – together with the other buildings standing in the square.

Explore the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Perugia with a self-guided audio tour. Learn about the history of the cathedral and its construction as you explore the site. Immerse yourself in a tour of St. Lawrence Cathedral, discovering the historical and artistic vicissitudes that have characterized it over the centuries. Behold the majesty of the church, which is striking in its breadth, in the light filtering through the mullioned windows set high up and adorned with stained glass windows painted in different eras, and in the vertical thrust of the columns, tempered by an overall 15th-century layout. Discover the stories of the Holy Ring and the chapel dedicated to it, admire the Mater Gratiae who welcomes visitors, or immerse yourself in the vibrant colors of Barocci's painting.

The historic journey begins in Piazza IV Novembre, in the city center, where you will pass the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. The tour then continues through various medieval streets to the Renaissance fortress of Rocca Paolina, which displayed the power of Pope Paul III. Since then, the ancient Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval heritage has been destroyed or preserved in underground galleries that are accessible to the public. Continue to the Maggiore fountain, which was built in 1278. Read the Latin inscriptions of the fountain and learn the history of the craftsmen and their role in creating this monumental medieval fountain. The fountain displays multiple iconographies, such as 50 bas-reliefs and 24 statues. Next, stop in the Palazzo dei Priori, which was the seat of the city government in the Middle Ages and is now the municipal seat of Perugia. Explore the Gothic building and pass the griffin and lion at its entrance.