VISIT UMBRIA

Umbria is called the green heart of Italy, and once you are here you will understand why. These are the places we love most, all within easy reach of Perugia.

THINGS TO DO IN PERUGIA

  • Underground Perugia and the Rocca Paolina

  • Piazza Italia, right beside the hotel

  • Beneath the city sits an entire medieval quarter, buried in the sixteenth century when Pope Paul III built a fortress on top of it. You can walk the original streets, arches, and vaulted passages, and it is free to enter. The escalators from the Piazza Partigiani car park run straight through it, so many guests will pass through on their way into town without realizing what they are walking through.

  • The Etruscan Well

    • Piazza Danti, a few minutes from Corso Vannucci

    • A remarkable feat of engineering built around 2,400 years ago, 37 meters deep, with a footbridge that lets you look right down into it.

  • Perugina Chocolate Shop

    • Corso Vannucci 101, in the center

    • Perugia is the chocolate capital of Italy and the birthplace of Baci, the little chocolate and hazelnut kisses with a love note folded inside each one. The historic shop on the main corso carries flavors you will not find anywhere else. Please do not leave Perugia without eating at least one Bacio.

  • Perugina Chocolate House (the Baci factory and museum)

    • Viale San Sisto 207/C, a short drive outside the center

    • For anyone who wants the full story, the factory just outside town offers a guided tour that includes the historic museum, a walkway above the working production floor, and a generous tasting at the end. Tours must be booked in advance and the factory is closed on Sundays.

EATING IN PERUGIA

Ristorante Il Giurista
Via Bartolo 30, Perugia
One of our favorite restaurants in all of Italy. You walk down into a cave and feel transported back in time while eating Umbrian classics. Worth booking ahead. Closed Sundays.

Trattoria Oberdan
Via Guglielmo Oberdan 35, Perugia
One of the best meals we have had in Umbria. The pastas are absolutely incredible and not a single dish disappointed. Closed Tuesdays.

Punto di Vista
Viale Indipendenza 2, Perugia
Our aperitivo spot, with one of the most beautiful panoramic views over the valley. Go early for a good table and have a glass of Sagrantino as the sun goes down. Opens at 6:00pm.

GELATO IN PERUGIA
We love both of these and could not pick between them, so please try both.

Lick Gelato
Corso Cavour 5, Perugia
Wonderful, inventive flavors. Open late.

La Gelateria
Piazza Matteotti 31, Perugia
A perfect stop while wandering the center. Open until midnight every day.

THINGS TO DO IN ASSISI

Assisi (about 20 minutes from Perugia) Beautiful to wander, especially the upper half of the town, which many visitors miss.

  • City center

  • Basilica di San Francesco Basilica of Saint Francis, Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco 2. The spiritual heart of Assisi and a UNESCO World Heritage site, built as two churches stacked one on the other and covered in extraordinary frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue. Saint Francis is buried in the crypt below.

  • Santa Maria Maggiore, the Sanctuary of the Spogliazione, Piazza del Vescovado 3. This is the square where Saint Francis famously renounced his father's wealth, and today the church holds the tomb of Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, canonized in 2025. It has become one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Italy, so expect a queue.

  • Eremo delle Carceri, Via Eremo delle Carceri 38. A hermitage tucked into the woods on Monte Subasio, built around the caves where Saint Francis and his brothers went to pray. It is peaceful, free to visit, and the setting is extraordinary. You can drive up or walk from town, though the walk is uphill and takes about an hour.

EATING IN ASSISI

Stelvietti Wine Store
Via Borgo Aretino 37b. Our number one recommendation in Assisi, and the one place we hope everyone visits. Francesco is a dear friend of ours. He makes you feel at home the moment you walk in, and you will leave happily full of wine, cheese, cured meats, olive oil, and above all love. Please stop by and tell him you are with us.

Osteria Piazzetta dell'Erba
Via San Gabriele dell'Addolorata 15/b. Easily one of the best meals of our lives. Creative, surprising, and unforgettable. Book ahead. Closed Mondays.

 Taverna dei Consoli
Vicolo della Fortezza 1. An exceptional meal and a wonderful atmosphere, set in a historic building with a terrace looking out over Piazza del Comune, the main square. Ask for a table on the terrace and settle in as the evening light comes over Assisi. Book ahead. Closed Wednesdays, and dinner only on Thursdays.

Trattoria Pallotta
Vicolo della Volta Pinta 3. Family run and intimate, with very good traditional Umbrian cooking. Closed Tuesdays.

La Volta Antica
Via Arnaldo Fortini 22. Lovely terrace for a drink.

GELATO IN ASSISI

Gelateria Leccapaletta
Via Sermei 2, just a few doors down from Francesco's shop and near the Basilica of Santa Chiara. Wonderful artisan gelato and the perfect follow-up to a visit with Francesco.

THINGS TO DO IN SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI

Santa Maria degli Angeli just below Assisi. A quiet, beautiful stop and well worth the short detour.

  • City center

  • Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli

EATING IN SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI


GELATO IN SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI

Demetra
Via Sandro Pertini 7, Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Natural Gelato. Wonderful, inventive flavors. Open late.

MONTEFALCO WINE COUNTRY

Approximately 45 minutes from Perugia

Rolling vineyards, medieval villages, and some of Italy’s most distinctive wines. Montefalco is the home of Sagrantino, one of Umbria’s most celebrated grape varieties, and one of our favorite places to spend a slow afternoon. We highly recommend booking a tasting at one (or more!) of the wineries below and taking time to explore the surrounding villages.

WINERIES WE LOVE

Valdangius
Località San Marco 84, Montefalco

Our absolute favorite. A small family-run winery where every visit feels personal. The passion, knowledge, and hospitality are extraordinary, and both the wines and olive oil are exceptional. If you only have time for one tasting, make it this one.

Antonelli San Marco
Località San Marco 60, Montefalco

A beautiful mid-sized estate producing excellent Sagrantino wines and outstanding olive oil. A wonderful introduction to Umbrian winemaking.

Arnaldo Caprai
Località Torre, 1, 06036 Montefalco PG

The region’s most iconic winery and the producer that brought Sagrantino to international recognition. A fascinating visit to discover the history and evolution of this remarkable wine.

Please note: Wine tastings should be booked in advance.

NEARBY VILLAGES

BEVAGNA

One of the best-preserved medieval villages in Umbria, just a few minutes from the wineries. Perfect for a leisurely stroll through its charming streets, a gelato, or a relaxing aperitivo between tastings.

SPELLO

Famous for its flower-filled streets, Roman history, and beautiful stone alleyways, Spello is one of the most picturesque villages in Umbria and well worth the short detour.