cathedral
Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi
A 13th-century basilica housing Giotto's frescoes and the tomb of St. Francis, a major pilgrimage destination.
18 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeItalyUmbria
Perugia
Umbria, Italy · Europe
About Perugia
Perugia is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Lacugnano, 56km from Frasassi Caves.
Perugia is in Umbria, Italy, with about 120,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Lacugnano, about 5 km away.
Perugia ( pə-ROO-jə, US also -jee-ə, pay-; Italian: [peˈruːdʒa] ; Latin: Perusia) is the capital city of Umbria and the province of Perugia in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber. The city is located about 164 km (102 mi) north of Rome and 148 km (92 mi) southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and partRead more
of the valleys around the area. With a population of 162,384, it is the 23rd-largest city in Italy.
The history of Perugia dates back to the Etruscan period, with Perugia serving as one of the main Etruscan cities.
The city is also known as a university town, with the University of Perugia founded in 1308, the University for Foreigners, and some smaller colleges such as the Academy of Fine Arts "Pietro Vannucci" (Italian: Accademia di Belle Arti "Pietro Vannucci") public athenaeum founded in 1573, the Perugia University Institute of Linguistic Mediation for translators and interpreters, and the Music Conservatory of Perugia founded in 1788.
Perugia is also a well-known cultural and artistic centre of Italy. The city hosts multiple annual festivals and events, such as the Umbria Jazz Festival in July, and the International Journalism Festival in April, and is associated with multiple notable people in the arts.
Painter Pietro Vannucci, nicknamed Perugino, was a native of Città della Pieve, near Perugia. He decorated the local Sala del Cambio with a series of frescoes, and eight of his pictures may be seen in the National Gallery of Umbria.
Perugino may have been the teacher of Raphael, the great Renaissance artist who produced five paintings in Perugia (today no longer in the city) and one fresco. Another painter, Pinturicchio, lived in Perugia. Galeazzo Alessi is the most famous architect from Perugia.
The city's symbol is the griffin, which can be seen in the form of plaques and statues on buildings around the city. It is also the symbol of the local football club A.C. Perugia, who have previously played in the Serie A. Having never been Italian champions, the club went unbeaten in the 1978–79 season despite finishing second in the championship.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Perugia?
Within an hour or so of Perugia: Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (18 km), Assisi (19 km), La Scarzuola (31 km), Orvieto (49 km).
Are there any good drives near Perugia?
The nearest famous roads are Strada Chiantigiana (SR222), Autostrada del Sole and Campo Imperatore.
Where is Perugia?
Perugia is in Umbria, Italy, about 5 km from Lacugnano.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 120,137
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Umbria
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 43.1122, 12.3888
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Perugia
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
Assisi
The birthplace of St. Francis, featuring the magnificent Basilica with Giotto's frescoes set against the slopes of Monte Subasio.
19 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
La Scarzuola
Surrealist 'ideal city' of stacked theatres, towers and esoteric symbols built by Milanese architect Tomaso Buzzi from 1958 inside a Franciscan convent's grounds. Deep in rural Umbria and visitable by reservation only, it feels like walking into a dream.
31 km · about 35 min drive
cathedral
Orvieto
A dramatic Umbrian hill town perched atop volcanic tufa cliffs, crowned by one of Italy's most ornate Gothic cathedrals.
49 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Montepulciano
A Renaissance hilltop town in southern Tuscany celebrated for its Vino Nobile wine and elegant Piazza Grande.
49 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Spoleto
An ancient Umbrian town famous for its towering Roman aqueduct bridge, the Ponte delle Torri, and its annual arts festival.
51 km · about 60 min drive
natural wonder
Frasassi Caves
One of Europe's largest show-cave systems, discovered in 1971: the Ancona Abyss entrance chamber could swallow Milan Cathedral. Guided routes wind past 1.4-million-year-old stalagmites deep under the Marche's Genga gorge.
56 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Pienza
A tiny Tuscan town redesigned in the 15th century as an ideal Renaissance city and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
58 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Perugia
5 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 68 kmVal d'OrciaA UNESCO-listed Tuscan valley of rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and golden wheat fields that define the Italian countryside.
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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