PERUGIA HOTEL DEALS

PERUGIA BREAKS

Perugia—Italy’s City of Chocolate is dressed like a medieval hill town from its Gothic palaces to its jazz cafes all the way to the ancient alleys of stone that dropped sharply off a 19th century shopping promenade.

Charming and quaint, the present Perugia is far from what it was in the Middle Ages. Although a thriving trade center, Perugia was characterised by violent infighting, vicious and bellicose inhabitants, warlike tendencies and a fondness for poison. Perugia engaged in blood-spattered riots with neighboring towns.  Even Perugia’s own brood fought against each other in what could only be described as more than just a gory catfight with secret vendettas and backstabbing, literally.

After such a long and bloody history however, Perugia, it seems, has eased into the role as the capital of Umbria just perfectly. Since then the city has re-channeled its energies into becoming the most sophisticated medieval city all throughout the world.  Indeed this is another must-see city.

The place to see and be seen is in Corso Vannuci, the Perugia’s public living room, a wide expanse that sets the stage for one of Italy’s most vibrant and decorous evening, the passeggiate. In Corso Vannucci, people saunter and parade in the twilight, to pause for espressos in the cafes or to discuss topics of politics and soccer scores with one another, al fresco.

Perugia’s Corso Venucci is anchored on one end by the 19th century Piazza Italia, while an undulating huge solid mass of crenellated travertine, the Palazzo dei Priori marks the other end.

Palazzo dei Priori is one of the largest town halls in Italy which was founded in the 1920’s and was expanded in 1443. At the Palazzo’s end borders Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia’s superb main square which is the turnstile for the evening passeggiata. Visitors come to the piazza to stroll around the piazza’s centerpiece, the Fontana Maggiore, one of the prettiest public fountains in Italy. Fontana Maggiore was designed by a local monk named Fra Bevignate and was sculpted by Nicolo and Giovanni Pisano.

Another main attraction in Perugia is the Basilica of San Domenico which was built in 1394. The Basilica was designed by Giovanni Pasana while the interior decorations were redesigned by Carlo Maderno. The Basilica of San Domenico houses fine examples of Umbrian art, the precious tomb of Pope Benedict XI and a Renaissance wooden choir.

If you are dreaming of checking out fine pieces of Umbrian Art, the Galleria Nazionale dell’ Umbria houses great works by Duccio, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico and Perugino.
When you are planning to visit Perugia, the best times would be when the city is celebrating its numerous festivals.  Perugia is some sort of a musical nucleus for Central Italy. The fun starts at the end of June with the Rockin’ Umbria Festival followed by Umbria Jazz, Europe’s most significant jazz festivals, which runs for 2 weeks in the middle of July. Umbria Jazz draws top international names to town for concerts and performances. This festival is so popular a smaller version has been made of it, the Umbria Jazz Winter, which takes place from the 29th of December to the 5th of January in nearby Orvieto. The Umbria Jazz Winter Festival includes a traditional New Years banquet and jazz parties that take place all night long.

There is another musical festival in Perugia that celebrates music of a different sort, the Sagra Musicale Festival. This international festival of sacred music is one of the top musical events of its kind in Italy and usually runs on the second and third weeks of September.

When you are visiting Perugia on the same month, don’t miss out on the next event after the Sagra Musicale Festival. The classical music festival of Perugia Classico includes an antique-instrument market, concerts and chamber-music performances plus musical workshops throughout town.

Of course in mid- to late October, don’t miss out on Perugia’s weeklong Eurochocolate Festival, held by chocolate manufacturers from all over the globe where you can stand to delight in a chocolate-carving contest and sample scraps of 1,100-kilo blocks of chocolates. There is also a wide array of multiple-course menus all created around the theme of chocolates.

At Perugia, one will surely have one delightfully sweet experience to remember. It’s a city well worth the visit!  Mark your calendars and book that flight NOW.

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