Showing posts with label walking tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walking tours. Show all posts

Walking Tour in Perugia: Porta Sole route

The Porta Sole district and its gate is a point of historical, artistic, and cultural interest in Perugia. The Porta Sole was the highest point in Perugia hill-top town and retains a place of respect in Italian literature: the great poet Dante Alighieri mentioned it several times in the Paradise of the Divine Comedy.

The following route is designed for those who have half a day to devote entirely to discovering the Porta Sole district and part of that of Monteluce: being a fairly long route, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

The route begins in Piazza Matteotti, a stone's throw from the very central Corso Vannucci. From the square, take via Volte della Pace, one of the most beautiful and particular streets in the whole city: the road follows and traces the path of the Etruscan walls, proceeding in a curvilinear direction, in a sort of fascinating run-up to the past. The cross vaults separate the earth from the sky, giving the street a truly characteristic flavor.
From here you reach Piazza Piccinino, where you can see the signs of what remains of an ancient medieval tower: it is easy to identify the remains from a plaque dated 1639, whose inscriptions remind passers-by that the property belonged to the noble Oddi family. We then return to Piazza Danti, thus describing a small circular route. In the Middle Ages, the square was occupied by a large and colorful market, and this custom is still repeated today: every Tuesday and Saturday a terracotta market is set up.

Via delle Prome under the snow
Next to the historic "Turreno" theater, via del Sole begins and leads to piazza Michelotti, once known as Monte del Sole. The reason is easy to understand once you reach the square: this is the highest area of the acropolis of Perugia, and right here, in pre-Christian times, the sacred temples stood. Subsequently, at the end of the 1300s, the fortress of Monmaggiore was built here, which was in turn destroyed in favor of the sixteenth and seventeenth-century architectures that have remained until today.

Parallel to via del Sole runs via delle Prome, a suggestive street made up of a stupendous staircase, made up of three ramps, one of which lies against the Etruscan walls. At the top of the staircase you can admire a spectacular panorama of Borgo Sant'Angelo and Borgo Sant'Antonio. Descending the stairs, however, one returns via Scoscesa and via Bartolo, which then comes out in piazza Fortebraccio, where the Etruscan arch and the University of Foreigners are located.

Turning from piazza Michelotti, continue the ascent along via dell'Aquila, arriving at the highest point in all of Perugia, 493 meters above sea level. From here it is possible to see another segment of the city's belvedere, which on very clear days and at sunset add a touch of magic to the postcard panorama.
The rather narrow and dimly lit street descends towards Piazzetta San Severo, often also called Piazzetta Raffaello. Its second name is a tribute to the 1400 chapel that overlooks the square, where the only fresco by Raphael in Perugia is kept. It is a work that represents the Trinity, dated 1505; the genius of Urbino left it unfinished, and it was another great artist, Perugino, who finished it.

The route then continues along the characteristic Via della Viola, a rather small but very populated and busy road, and then along Via della Torricella, which overlooks the present-day Largo di Porta Pesa, where a gate of the same name once stood. The name of this gate derives from the fact that the carts were weighed in this passageway; born as a continuation of the Porta Sole district, the village of Porta Pesa winds towards the east, then giving way to the Monteluce district, more modern also from an architectural point of view.

Cappella Vitalucci, monumental cemetery
Leaving Largo di Porta Pesa you then enter the Monteluce area: continuing along via Brunacci you arrive at the Romanesque-Gothic style church of Santa Maria di Monteluce. The particularity of the church was that it was practically annexed to a 13th-century convent, which became the hospital of Perugia at the end of the 1920s. Inside the church, which can still be visited, there are important frescoes of the Umbrian and Sienese schools dating back to the 1300s.
For those who still want to walk - but it is also possible to continue by car - it is possible to go back along via Brunacci and take via Enrico dal Pozzo, the ancient Etruscan and then Roman road that went towards the Tiber. After San Bevignate, you will arrive further on at the monumental city cemetery, inaugurated in 1849. The entrance was designed by the architect Alessandro Arienti; inside the cemetery there are truly admirable chapels and funeral monuments, belonging to the most famous and important families of Perugia.

Photo credit by Alex Barrow, maresogno67 e Perugia-City

Tourism in Perugia: Borgo Sant'Angelo itinerary

Among the many walking tours through the maze of narrow streets of the historic center, we offer you a route in the heart of medieval Perugia lasting about a quarter of an hour on foot, which touches the most important places in the Sant'Angelo district.
The itinerary begins in Piazza Morlacchi, a stone's throw from the very central Corso Vannucci; this square is one of the favorite places for young people to have an aperitif. From here, go down via Cesare Battisti, from which you can enjoy a suggestive view of the lower part of the city. The road passes over Via Appia, where the old aqueduct has become a pedestrian walkway; on your right you can admire the arch of the Aqueduct, while on your left you can admire the Perugian countryside, the low medieval houses and - further away - the university buildings. Sharpening the view, you can see the ancient establishments of Perugina. At the end of the road, the frenetic Piazza Grimana opens up, with its traffic lights and constant shouting. The more modern aspect of Perugia here merges with history: the austere Etruscan Arch stands on your right, marking the entrance to the historic centre; on the left, however, is the elegant Palazzo Gallenga, which has long housed the University of Foreigners.

Take a deep breath and take Corso Garibaldi: a slight climb begins. Although it is busy with cars and mopeds, Corso Garibaldi does not lose its medieval charm. The old houses alternate with monasteries and churches, often consecrated. Being an area with a high concentration of students, the most diverse commercial activities are located inside the buildings: from stationery shops to the numerous and excellent kebab shops, up to laundromats. Don't forget to look inside the many alleys that branch off from the main street: you will discover a myriad of delightful views, small arches, gardens, small gardens and internal courtyards. Also take a closer look at the lintels of the doorways of the houses: on many of them, in fact, there are sacred pottery or stone drawings which in ancient times symbolized both the social status of the landlord and membership of a guild of craft.

At the top of Corso Garibaldi is the imposing Cassero di Porta Sant'Angelo, built in the 1300s for defensive purposes. The impression that the building makes is truly enormous; on its sides are the walls, still perfectly preserved. By paying a very cheap ticket, it is possible to enter the Cassero and visit the Museum of the City Gates and Walls. At the top of the tower, the show that awaits you is breathtaking: from the highest point of Perugia, you will dominate the roofs of the whole city and the surrounding countryside. And if the day is particularly serene, it is probable that you never want to get off!

The corridor that leads to the entrance to the Cassero proceeds to the right, on a slight slope: at the end of the stairs, the small and well-kept lawn of the Temple of San Michele Arcangelo opens up. The origin of this church - among the oldest in Perugia - is lost in the mists of time: dating back to the 5th century AD, it was rebuilt on the basis of a Roman temple, which in turn stood on an area considered sacred by the Etruscans. The circular plan and its internal architecture are particularly interesting: the altar in the center of the church and the mixture of various styles that have alternated over the centuries make it a wonderful setting, especially for weddings, which take place continuously from mid-April until October forward.
Next to the temple, just outside the walls, is the Sant'Angelo Park, a green space of about 4 hectares equipped both for sports lovers and for hosting cultural events, such as the various theater and music festivals organized throughout the year, especially in summer. Beyond the walls is also the Convent of Monteripido, about 500 meters from the Cassero.

Above, Tempio Sant'Angelo, photo by Aracuano

Tourism in Perugia: Discover Borgo Bello

Slightly away from the heart of the acropolis, Perugia retains a truly fascinating corner of the city full of architectural and visual wonders. The tourist route that we propose begins just behind the busy Piazza Matteotti. From here we reach via Oberdan, which accompanies us to discover Borgo Bello.

A stone's throw from Corso Vannucci and the Rocca Paolina, it is easy to reach the picturesque "ladders" of Sant'Ercolano, a double stairway from the 1600s. Walking along the ladders is like plunging gradually into the Perugian Middle Ages: the steps unwind, drawing a slight curve, crossing the ancient Porta Cornea - also called Arco di Sant'Ercolano - and then ending at the foot of the magnificent church dedicated to the homonymous saint.
The church stands in the place where the martyrdom of Sant'Ercolano, protector of Perugia and the university, is thought to have taken place; it was erected so close to the Etruscan walls that its first floor was demolished during the construction of the Rocca Paolina, to allow the latter to have an excellent view of the entire surrounding valley. Built in Gothic style at the end of the 1200s, it is considered a magnificent wedding favor, due to the beauty it contains inside. Unfortunately, however, due to a lack of funds for maintenance and restoration, Sant'Ercolano is closed to the public most of the time, but with a little luck it is possible to find it open.

After passing the 19th-century Tre Archi in via Marconi, you reach Corso Cavour, a long street full of shops and workshops. The small square dedicated to Giordano Bruno will immediately attract your attention, opening your view to the imposing basilica of San Domenico.
Its construction began in the mid-1400s, but its current composition, Gothic, very simple and white, was defined in 1600. San Domenico preserves many valuable works of art, as well as a huge apse window, among the largest in Italy.
San Domenico was built on the ashes of the ancient church of Santo Stefano, of which only the Romanesque portal and the cloister of the adjoining convent remain, where today the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria is located. The emotional impact of the cloister, especially if the day is sunny, is disarming: bright and tidy, it has a well in the center. All around, cinerary urns and Etruscan and Roman finds. The actual museum develops in the internal rooms of the cloister and is subject to a fee, while the external entrance to the structure is free.

Continuing along Corso Cavour you reach the majestic Basilica of San Pietro and its Benedictine monastery, now the seat of the Faculty of Agriculture.
The church was built in the 1900s and is surmounted by a beautiful and sinuous bell tower visible from different areas of the city. Inside, the basilica is like a treasure chest: the yellow of the gold dominates the predominantly Gothic architecture, and the wooden choir is considered the most beautiful in Italy, while the chapels are finely frescoed. Among the most precious works that the church houses are important names in the history of art such as Perugino and Guercino.
The cloisters of the Basilica house the botanical and medieval garden, characteristic of the presence of internal water sources, as the Benedictine philosophy required for monastic life. It is possible to visit this paradise of plants, flowers, and fruits every day except Saturdays and Sundays from 8.00 to 17.00.

Just outside the vegetable gardens, you can glimpse a fenced and closed public garden: they are the Frontone Gardens, the first public park in Perugia and the scene of municipal initiatives such as fairs, markets, concerts, and open-air cinemas. Completed in 1700, the small park has a linear and simple structure, with gravel paths, green flowerbeds, and centuries-old trees, which flow into a small travertine amphitheater. The air you breathe at the Frontone is decadent and melancholic, but very fascinating. A suitable place to rest in peace after visiting all the wonders of the journey just completed.