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The small town of Perugia is the essence of Italy tours. Tiny villages, homemade wine, architectural masterpieces, and, of course, incredible artworks. Perugia was the heart of the Umbrian school of painting in the 15th century. Bernardino Betti, Pietro Vannucci, young but showing great promise already, Raphael, and plenty of other outstanding artists worked in Perugia at some point, and examples of their work can be found in the churches all around the town.
Every Perugia trip starts at the Piazza IV Novembre, the historic center of the city. The beautiful Fontana Maggiore, decorated with pink and white marble stones and bronze nymph sculptures, is proudly set in the middle of the piazza. On the west side of it, you can find the Archbishop's Palace and the Museum of Natural History, but the most interesting sight near the Piazza IV Novembre is San Lorenzo.
The San Lorenzo Church is one of the few Italian churches that has never been completed. The facade of the building remains unfinished; only the wall facing the Fontana Maggiore can boast beautiful white and pink marble decorations, matching the ones you can find on the fountain.
The San Bernardino's chapel of the cathedral contains the "Deposition" by Federico Barroci, its sacristy is home to a set of Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi's frescoes, and the church of San Severo offers the opportunity to admire the work of young Raphael, "The Trinity".
There's so much to explore in Perugia. Take a look at the list below and get inspired to plan your journey.