Surroundings

Assisi is a beautiful town in the province of Perugia, very well known as the birthplace of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. A beautiful medieval town, which has remained intact for centuries and is still protected today by city walls, built on a spur of Mount Subasio. It is still not entirely clear where the name Assisi comes from: perhaps from “Assium”, or perhaps from the name of an animal, meaning that its name would signify “city of the falcon”. The city was already inhabited in pre-Roman times, as shown by the remains of a sanctuary with small bronze statues. Around 295 BC, the city came under Roman rule, as demonstrated by the remains of the Temple of Minerva, located next to the town’s main square. The forum is also beautiful; it lies beneath the square and can be visited through the Archaeological Museum.

Perugia, founded by the Etruscans, is the capital of Umbria. A celebrated city of art, rich in history and monuments, it is an important cultural and economic centre and a popular destination for many tourists and students. Today, it offers Etruscan monuments, medieval squares, and Baroque palaces. In addition, the Umbria Jazz Festival is held here every year, a music festival famous throughout Europe, which attracts visitors from all over the world each year. The historic centre is crossed by many narrow streets, where you can admire interesting historical monuments such as the Etruscan Arch, built in the 3rd century BC, the Fontana Maggiore, and the Palazzo dei Priori, which houses the National Gallery of Umbria.