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What to see -
Things to see in Perugia
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The monumental
centre of Perugia is represented by the Piazza IV
Novembre which has been for many centuries the meeting
points of the citizens of Umbria and the for the ancient
Etruscans and Roman civilisations.
The Piazza as a
magnificent steep alleys which lead as far as the oldest
walls of the original Etruscan nucleus reachable through the
ancient gates of Porta Marzia, Porta Sole, Porta
Cornea, Porta Trasimena, Porta della Mandorla and the Arco
Etrusco.
Not a surprise
that the Piazza is indeed considered one of the most
beautiful squares in Italy as far as it is also surrounded
by splendid buildings.
On the centre
of the Piazza stands the Fontana Maggiore (The Great
Fountain) a beautiful medieval fountain erected in the XII
century designed by Fr?Bevignate and constructed by Nicola
and Giovanni Pisano.
The fountain is
linked by the aqueduct which carried water to the town from
Mount Pacciano. Decorated with two polygonal basins, it is
covered by slabs of marbles representing biblical and
mythological personages, saints, animals, and
personifications of months, sciences, virtues, and places.
Once, it represented the power of the city combining civil
and religious aspects.
At the edge of the Piazza is also Palazzo
dei Priori, once the residence of the chief political
authorities of the city. Its origins dated 1298-1353.
The palace, in red and white stones, has on
the side facing the fountain a large stairway and a portal which
gives access to the beautiful Sala dei Notari, from year 1290,
the site where the nobility of the region once met. It has a
beautiful volts supported by arches in Romanesque style
decorated with magnificent frescos.
The interior of the Palazzo dei Priori
comprises the National Gallery of Umbria, indeed the most
important collection of art in Umbria for the Medieval and the
Modern periods. The gallery hosts 30 rooms of art dating back to
the XIII century.
Also in the Palazzo dei Priori is the e
Sala del Collegio del Cambio (The Guild of Money-Changers),
where it can be admired the most important work by Perugino, one
of the most significant examples of Renaissance painting in
Italy, a series of frescoes representing the heroes and deities
of antiquity together with some personified virtues.
In the Palazzo is also the Sala del
Collegio della Mercanzia (The Guild of Merchants), a notable
artistic and historic gilded location, rather rare in Italy for
its wooden panels; for instance the Guild of Merchants placed
its seat in this palace in 1390 and the members ordered to cover
the room for meetings with wooden panels.
In the Piazza we can also admire the
Cathedral of San Lorenzo, whose work started in early 900s
and finished at the end of 1400s. Inside, there is a magnificent
Gothic architecture, an altarpiece by Signorelli and sculptures
by Duccio.
Moreover, the elegant arches of the Loggia
di Braccio, erected in 1423 where, under the portico, where
we can admire remains of the Roman walls, the base of the old
bell-tower and a copy of the Pietra della Giustizia (Stone of
Justice), a document of the Comune of Perugia dating back to
1200. According to an old tradition, in the Chapel of Saint
Ring is preserved the ring of the Virgin.
Not to miss are also the ?Giardini
Carducci?, located atop a massive XVI century fortress, the
Rocca Paolina (often used for art exhibitions), offering
a lovely view of the countryside.
Finally, other beautiful site worth seeing
are the Medieval Gardens, the Chiesa di San Pietro,
the Pozzo Etrusco, and the magnificent Tempio di
Sant?Angelo, which offers to the visitor hidden symbolism
carved in to the walls.
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