Perugia is a city in the Italian region of Umbria. It has an important university that attracts many foreign students, is a major center of medieval art, has a stunningly beautiful central area and is home of the Umbria Jazz Festival. The city is also a major producer of chocolates.
Perugia City Museum Card allows access to any 5 museums of the following 10 ones: San Severo Chapel, National Gallery of Umbria, Volumni Hypogeum, National Archaeological Museum of Umbria, Capitolar Museum, Nobile Collegio del Cambio, Nobile Collegio della Mercanzia, Palazzo Baldeschi al Corso, Museum of Palazzo della Penna, Etruscan Well. It also allows reduced admission to Archeologic Area of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Museum of the Academy of fine Arts, Palazzo Sorbello House Museum, Templar Complex of San Bevignate, in addition to discounts at featured restaurants. It's valid for 48 hours and costs €14 for adults and €10 for students (May 2019).
Perugia is a large hill town. Most major attractions are at the top of the hill in the Centro Storico (historic centre). It is almost impossible to access the Centro Storico by car unless you have a confirmed hotel booking. Even outside the very centre you will drive very slowly over the many cobblestoned one-way streets and may very well end up driving around in circles several times as traffic signs are very confusing. Do as little driving as possible, and get around on foot. The main car park for tourists is at Piazza Partigiani. From there you can take a series of escalators (hopefully most of them will be working!) up into the old town.
1 Rocca Paolina. It was a Renaissance fortress, built in 1540-1543 for pope Paul III to designs by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. The escalators from the lower town lead up through the remains of this fortress. It was built on top of medieval streets, which were used as foundations, and before coming out into daylight at Piazza Italia you go through some of these medieval streets covered with brick ceilings when the fortress was built. Little now remains of the fortress itself. Free admission. (updated May 2019) 2 Porta Marzia (Marzia Gate). This is an Etruscan city gate built in the 3rd century BC and much later incorporated into the city walls.
Just walking around. There is probably no city in the world that better rewards the casual explorer in the sheer variety of its streetscapes. You can stroll along a Roman aqueduct that connects two of the city's hills, passing doors on the third stories of homes to peer over the edge at the doors at street level below. You can walk along the Via delle Volta della Pace, which follows the Etruscan city wall, but is now wholly arched over by a Gothic portico. You can stumble along cobbled streets that have the unique combination of slopes interrupted by small steps that only Italians seem to master.
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 view 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 (1 Hotel Brufani) before reaching the viewpoint offers five-star accommodation and regional dishes, specializing in legumes and fantastic olive oils.
1 Merlin Pub, Via del Forno. Good place to drink, good mix of locals and students alike. Good offers on beers, remember if you get a leaflet, make sure the barman sees it, otherwise you will get charged full whack. Look out for Pisco, the owner, who will love to give you a free welcome shot. (updated Jan 2016) 2 Punta di Vista, Viale Indipendenza (Just off the Piazza Italia). open air bar which is open in the summer. Nice cocktails and (like the name says) a beautiful view. (updated Jan 2016)
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Aug, Perugia typically sees ~29°C daytime highs and 8 rainy days.
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