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GAY PERUGIA
Discover this City with our Quick and Practical Guide to Visit the Best Attractions, Savor Typical Dishes and Have Fun in the Best Gay Bars. All this through the Rainbow Eyes of the World Mappers
What to See, Best Places to Sleep, Where to Eat and to Have Fun in PERUGIA?
Find it out with the World Mappers !
WHAT TO SEE in PERUGIA?
10 THINGS TO SEE in PERUGIA
Fontana Maggiore (Major Fountain)
One of the symbols of the city, in the splendid Piazza IV Novembre. The fountain was built towards the end of the 1200s to celebrate the arrival of water in the upper part of the city thanks to the aqueduct that transported it from Monte Pacciano. It is a small architectural jewel with countless decorations.
Palazzo dei Priori (Priory Palace)
This palace dominates Piazza IV Novembre. Today it houses the Town Hall and the National Gallery of Umbria. It was built in Gothic style between 1293 and 1443 and its main access is through a large 13th century portal, located in Piazza IV Novembre. If you have the opportunity to see the interiors, don't miss the Sala dei Notar and its eight large frescoed arches: a marvel for the eyes. Entry to this room is free.
Cathedral of San Lorenzo
The Cathedral of Perugia is the main religious building to see in the city. The main facade is located in Piazza Danti but it is the lateral one (overlooking Piazza IV Novembre) that amazes for its beauty, exactly in front of the Maggiore fountain and Palazzo dei Priori. The white and pink geometric decoration of the walls left us speechless with its beauty (and it's also a great background for beautiful photographs). One of the things we liked to do in Perugia was to sit on the stairs overlooking Piazza IV Novembre and enjoy the atmosphere of one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Italy.
Casa del Cioccolato (Chocolate House)
Perugia is home to one of the most famous chocolate companies in Italy and in the world: Perugina. In San Sisto, a fraction of the municipality of Perugia, it is possible to visit the establishments and the attached museum with thematic itineraries, tastings and much more (for info click here). The visit lasts just over an hour and in it you will retrace more than 100 years of history of this company and you will discover (and taste) the famous Perugian products (first of all, the Baci). Definitely the sweetest visit you can make in Perugia.
Perugia Aqueduct
Built in 1245, this aqueduct carried water from Monte Pacciano to the main fountain in Piazza IV Novembre. Today the Perugia aqueduct has been completely restored and offers one of the most beautiful walks in the region. You walk right on sections of the old aqueduct in a path that connects the main square of the city with the university area. In the Monte Pacciano area it is still possible to see some remains of the aqueduct system, such as the old cisterns where the water was stored.
Piazza IV Novembre
We talked about all the architectural works that overlook here but not about her, Piazza IV Novembre, the center of the city. The perfect place to start a visit to Perugia. Surrounded by the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the imposing Palazzo dei Priori, this splendid square stands on the once-busy site of the ancient Roman Forum, in the heart of the historic centre. Piazza IV Novembre is the meeting place for young people and tourists, as well as the location for many of the main events taking place in the city, such as the Chocolate Festival.
Rocca Paolina
The construction of this fortress required the destruction of many houses, churches and towers that stood on the area chosen to erect it. Today only a section of the walls and the bastion that incorporates Porta Marzia are visible. Furthermore, escalators have been installed since the 1980s which from the Piazza Partigiani car park, at the base of the acropolis on which Perugia stands, go up directly to Piazza Italia, in the heart of the city.
Oratory of San Bernardino
Wanted by the Franciscan friars in honor of San Bernardino of Siena. As soon as you see it, you are struck by the beautiful multicolored facade created thanks to the use of different materials that make it the most illustrious Renaissance monument in Perugia. The interiors are no different. Just think that the altar consists of a 4th-century sarcophagus containing the remains of Sant'Egidio, companion of San Francesco.
National Gallery of Umbria
Located on the upper floors of the fabulous Palazzo dei Priori, the National Gallery is one of the most important museums to see, not only in Perugia, but in the entire Umbria region. It houses a large collection of artistic heritage, covering a period from the 13th to the 19th century. Surely it is the main museum to visit in Perugia.
Etruscan Well
A large hydraulic work with a depth of 37 meters and a diameter of over 5 meters. This underground well was one of the most important water reservoirs in Perugia. Today it can be visited thanks to a system of stairs and walkways that allow you to go down to the bottom of the well. It is a visit that we recommend. The Etruscan well is located near Piazza Danti, in the historic center (for info and costs we leave you the link).
World Mappers & Condividiamo il Viaggio ❤
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
Visiting this city at its best depends essentially on how long you have to fully enjoy it. Here is a solution based on the number of days available to you:
Day 1 - Complete Perugia - Google Maps
Extra - Perugia & Casa del Cioccolato (by car) - Google Maps
(By opening the Maps with Google, you can easily follow our path)
10 BEST EXCURSIONS from PERUGIA
We advise you to book the best excursions here: Viator - Musement - Get Your Guide
Assisi
Urbino & Gradara
Corciano & Gubbio
Spello, Foligno, Bevagna & Spoleto
Todi, Orvieto & Civita di Bagnoregio
Narni, Terni & Cascate delle Marmore
Lago Trasimeno, Castiglione del Lago, Passignano sul Trasimeno & Magione
Panicale & Città della Pieve
Norcia, Castelluccio di Norcia & Monti Sibillini
San Marino & San Leo
Click'n'Go - Click on Hotels, Restaurants, Bars & Clubs
to find them on the Map or visit their Website
WHERE TO SLEEP in PERUGIA?
5 BEST GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS in PERUGIA
Hotel Giò Wine e Jazz Area **** ® Tested by World Mappers
WHERE TO EAT in PERUGIA?
10 BEST RESTAURANTS in PERUGIA Quality / Price
€€€ - Ristorante il Giurista
€€€ - Ristorante Luce ® Tested by Condividiamo il Viaggio
€€ - Al Mangiar Bene ® Tested by World Mappers
€€ - Civico 25
€€ - Settimo Sigillo ® Tested by World Mappers
€€ - Osteria a Priori
€€ - Trattoria del Borgo
€ - Antica Norcineria ® Tested by World Mappers
GAY NIGHTLIFE in PERUGIA
BEST GAY FRIENDLY PLACES, BARS & CLUBS in PERUGIA
Malocchio Sicilian Tapas Bar (Gay-Friendly Bar) ® Tested by World Mappers
Be Queer (Gay Night)
Punto di View ® Tested by Condividiamo il Viaggio
(Super Friendly Panoramic Bar - Great view over the city!)
TRAVEL TIPS about PERUGIA by World Mappers
If you plan to arrive in Perugia with your own car and don't want to pay for parking, you might find it difficult. The solutions can be two. You can park for free and without time limits at the base of Perugia, along the hairpin bends that go up towards the city (Via Tancredi Ripa di Meana). Or you can park for free in the Porta Nova car park (Viale Pietro Conti, Pian di Massiano) connected to the historic center by a very convenient minimetrò (about 15 minutes, ticket 1.50 Euros). We highly recommend it!
The Most BEAUTIFUL PANORAMIC POINTS of PERUGIA
Enjoy the city from above from the best panoramic points of Perugia that we recommend:
Belvedere Carducci Panoramic Point
From here you will see one of the most beautiful views over the southern part of the city: the Tiber valley, the Umbrian valley and the mountains.
Panoramic Point Porta Sole - Via delle Prome
Walking along the steps of Via delle Prome you reach the highest point of Perugia where the fortress of Porta Sole once stood. The view from up here has left us speechless.
Viewpoint Terrace of the Covered Market
This terrace overlooks Assisi directly, which can be seen in the distance, and Mount Subasio. The right place to relax sipping a good cocktail with a view.
Viewpoint Arco di Via Appia
From here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city below, crossed by the characteristic hanging street of the former aqueduct and of Borgo Sant'Angelo.
Viewpoint Terrace of Cassero
This is the terrace located on top of the tower of the medieval walls in which the largest gate of the city opens. From the top of the tower you can enjoy a 360° panorama of the city and the surrounding mountains.
Viewpoint Piazza Ermini
Right from the square, above the Etruscan walls, you can cast your gaze towards the Conca and Sant'Angelo.
Viewpoint Via del Poggio
The street serves as a balcony with a beautiful view of San Francesco al Prato.
Viewpoint Via della Cupa
Passing over a long stretch of the Etruscan wall, this road runs along the underlying Parco della Cuparella from above and is one of the best panoramic points of the city.
"SECRET PERUGIA"
Unusual and Particular Places to See in Perugia
Outside the classic places to visit of the city, there is a "Secret Perugia" that has simply bewitched us. Here are the 5 Things and Places to See in Secret Perugia (and Surroundings):
Hypogeum of the Volumni - Not far from the center of Perugia (about 5 km), in the Ponte San Giovanni area, there is an extraordinary place from the Etruscan era: the hypogeum of the Volumni, a tomb with seven chambers under the surface. The beauty of the building lies in its characteristic shape of a house from the Etruscan-Roman era and consists of an atrium and seven rooms. It is a place often not known by those who visit Perugia, but if you have time, and you are passionate about history and archeology, we advise you to see it.
Monte Santa Maria Tiberina - A small Umbrian village perched on a promontory which preserves its traditions, with typical stone houses, arches and cobbled streets. Until the 1920s it was part of the Tuscan territory. From the top of its position you can admire both the Umbrian and Tuscan valleys, a feast for the eyes. After a walk through the quiet alleys, stop for lunch in one of the trattorias in the historic centre. In this little piece of paradise, a small restaurant was recommended to us which we in turn recommend: the Oscari Restaurant. exquisite food (as in all of Umbria) and breathtaking views... what more could you want? Don't forget to taste the most famous local product: the Black Truffle.
Rasiglia - Have you ever heard of the "Venice of Umbria"? Well yes, it really exists and it is the village of Rasiglia, in the municipality of Foligno. Here streams, waterfalls, bridges and mills are the masters .. you will seem to have been catapulted into a fairytale village.
Foligno - If you are in Perugia, plan a visit to the beautiful Foligno, the town in the province of Perugia just over half an hour by car, halfway between Perugia and Assisi. Unlike most Umbrian towns, Foligno is flat. Head straight to Piazza della Repubblica, the heart of the city, overlooked by the most important monuments: Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo Trinci and the Duomo. Don't miss the beautiful municipal library in Piazza del Grano and the church of San Giacomo with its characteristic red and white bands. You cannot go to Foligno and not see the Cosmic Magnet, the gigantic (24 meters long and 9 meters wide) work of the Italian artist Gino de Dominicis and exhibited in the former church of the Santissima Trinità Annunziata in the historic center of the city. A huge human skeleton with a bird's beak nose lying on his back. A phalanx of the right hand is "tipped" by a golden rod, a sort of magnet that creates a "contact between the skeleton and the cosmic world".
Tenuta Castelbuono in Bevagna - Thirty hectares of land in the municipalities of Bevagna and Montefalco, in the province of Perugia. The Umbrian estate of the Lunelli family, which has been producing wines for generations, houses the first sculpture in the world with an internal cellar where you can drink, the Carapace, a work of art that integrates perfectly with the surrounding landscape. You can participate in guided tours and tastings.
La Scarzuola - An ideal city created by the architect Tommaso Buzzi, in the province of Terni (fraction of Montegiove). A set of architectural elements of different inspirations that create a very strange, almost science fiction "city". It is possible to visit the city only by booking a guided tour in advance.
The smallest theater in the world - In Monte Castello di Vibio, about thirty kilometers from Perugia, you will discover this tiny theatre, the Teatro della Concordia. With a maximum capacity of 99 spectators it is said to be the smallest theater in the world.
La Strada degli Scultori a Brufa - Those who follow us know well our passion for Street Art. In this case, however, we are talking about a slightly different form of art but in our opinion equally beautiful and surprising. In fact, the village of Brufa and its surroundings can be defined as an open-air museum thanks to the works of art scattered here and there between the village and the surrounding hills. All this wonder just twenty minutes by car from Perugia. The idea was born in the eighties by the artist Massimo Pierucci who exhibited his works in the historic center of Brufa. Since that year, every year, an artist has donated a work to the city which is exhibited in what can truly be defined as an open-air museum. We like this concept of mingling and coexistence between art and nature very much.
From Perugia in about twenty minutes you can reach Lake Trasimeno. It is the largest lake in central Italy, just 30 kilometers from Perugia, perfect for spending a day surrounded by nature. It is a good place if you are traveling with children due to the many beaches that you can find along the entire perimeter. Naturally, you cannot fail to visit the beautiful and fascinating medieval villages nearby, easily reachable via the road that runs along the lake. We have been to Passignano sul Trasimeno, a beautiful little village - besides this you cannot miss Castiglione del Lago and Magione.
GAY FRIENDLY TOURS
Do you want to discover the city more deeply through Perugia's Best Gay Tours? We recommend the following local operators:
Gaily Tour - Tour Operator offering tours and excursions dedicated to the LGBT + community throughout Europe. Special Tours and Gay & Lesbian Friendly Guides ready to make you discover the beauties of this destination. Info & Booking: info@GailyTour.com
What to See near Perugia ?
