Perugia -their defences were not made out of chocolate and hazelnutsYet it is a definite surprise if all you think about are those delicious chocolate candies with the hazelnuts and love messages written inside. There is way much more to see in this hidden corner.
In fact, when the city of Rome was little more that an encampment of huts, one could already enter etruscan Perugia Italy using one of 7 large doors. The Porta Pulchra, called such in a document of 1036, dates back to Etruscan times, and was also known as THE ETRUSCAN ARCH. It is one of the gates of the old town: the monument, is formed of huge stones without cement and creates and impress welcome to Perugia. Half the fun at Perugia is actually parking your car and find one of the the large escalators which take you through the hidden fotress underground to the city above. So don`t try to get as close as possible - but try and find the entrances for the Scala Mobile - and begin the adventure in Perugia from the parking lot.
The beuatiful fountain found in the middle of the famous square was built in 1278, it was designed with two poligonal and concentric marble basins surmounted by a bronze bowl. This fountain is one of the most beautiful because of the elegance of its lines, the harmony of its form and the value of its decorations consisting of 50 bas-reliefs and 24 statues by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano. The square itself is lovely with the church and Palazzo on either side and the lovely walk up the main road with all of its little stores.
The Priors` Palace, a superb expression of the city`s municipal spirit, was built between the 13th and the 15th centuries. Its austere mass, completely closed in a vest of square stone and only slightly embellished by two rows of beautiful Gothic windows with three lights which run along its longer side, stands on the square like an enormous bastion. This Palazzo is a beautiful museum, where you can have a look at the local art - being so close to Assisi has made this a plus for Perugia. But you don`t need to visit the museum in order to appreciate the architectual beatuy and lines.
At the extreme end of Corso Vannucci you`ll find famous panoramic gardens built on the foundations of the Rocca Paolina, a strong-hold built by Pope Paul III in 1540. These foundations contain, similar to under an enormous bell, an entire quarter of the old Perugia: a dead city, a sort of Medieval Pompei which has been brought tot light again and which is fascinating to visit. Perugia`s ascents and stairways are usually quite steep, both the most ancient and the most recent. You can gain entrance to this so called dead city by the escalators from the parking lots or from the main quare - Piazza Italia.
Its great in the summer time because it is cool and refreshing after all that Tuscan sun! The main Corso is a perfect place to get a table and a pizza while people watching. This main corso connects the two main squares and there is a constant flow of people in Perugia - and if it is too cold to sit outside you will be pleasant surprised at the structures inside which hide large vaulted ceilings and age old brick and stone buildings.
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