Palazzo Gallenga

Torre degli Sciri

Hypogeum of the Volumni

THE CHURCH OF JESUS – Typical sixteen century church with three naves richly decorated, the structure is situated above three superimposed oratories forming outside a sort of tower: according to the social hierarchy of that time, in the upper part there is the oratory of the Nobles' Congregation, than the one of the Artistes, and lower the one of the Peasants.
At the end of the square where stands this church there is VIA VOLTE DELLA PACE, a long ogival gallery from the 1300s built on the tracing of the Etruscan wall.
THE CHURCH OF SAN SEVERO – The present aspect dates back to the 18th century, and the interior is in Neoclassical style; next to the church there is a chapel of the 15th century where can be admired a fresco attributed to RAFFAELLO for its upper part, while the rest of the work is by Perugino.
Going down VIA UGO ROCCHI – also called Via Vecchia (Old Street), being one of the five royal ways which linked the suburbs with the town – one comes to THE ETRUSCAN ARCH, one of the gates of the old town: the monument, called "Porta Pulchra" in a document of 1036, is formed of huge stones inserted one another without cement; the vault is supported by an arch on which there is a frieze decorated with round shields; at its sides two trapezoidal towers, one with a Renaissance loggia.
At a few steps stands PALAZZO GALLENGA STUART, a Baroque building by Carattoli, which houses the prestigious UNIVERSITA' PER STRANIERI (the University for Foreigners).
CHURCH AND ORATORY OF SANT'AGOSTINO – The church is in Gothic style (13th century), but the upper part was restructured in Mannerist style; the magnificent oratory has a rich 17th century decoration in protobaroque style of Perugia.
TEMPLE OF SANT'ANGELO – A round paleochristian building dating back to the 5th – 6th centuries; the central area is separated from the rest by a perimeter of Roman columns; the roof is supported by arches and little columns and the portal is in Gothic style.
From the Corso Vannucci one may go down VIA DEI PRIORI, one of the liveliest and picturesque streets in Perugia, with medieval buildings and interesting monuments: the CHURCH OF SANT'AGATA, built by the Commune authorities in 1300; the church of San Filippo Neri, called CHIESA NUOVA (New Church), erected in the 17th century where before was an ancient paleochristian baptistery; it has important Baroque frescoes, among which the "Concezione di Maria" by Pietro da Cortona.
At the end of the Via dei Priori stands the TORRE DEGLI SCIRI, dating back to the 12th century, the only one remained intact among the numerous ones which existed in the town, punctually demolished when the owners were banished.
From the centre, going down the characteristic VIA OBERDAN, one comes to the beautiful CHURCH OF SANT'ERCOLANO, a polygonal structure erected in the first years of 1300s just where was martyred Sant'Ercolano. Nearby is CORSO CAVOUR, another royal way which linked the town with the Abbey of San Pietro and the church of San Costanzo, that is the road to Rome.
CHURCH OF SAN COSTANZO – The church, dedicated to the Bishop Costanzo, martyred during Marco Aurelio's rule, is already testified in 1027; it was restore and consecrated in 1205. At the end of the 19th century the church was almost totally rebuilt by Calderini and of the medieval construction are preserved only the external part of the apse and the magnificent Romanesque portal.
Beautiful and interesting are also the churches of SANTA GIULIANA, a Romanesque-Gothic structure from the half of the 13th century, and SANTA MARIA DI MONTELUCE, a Gothic building (13th century) with a two-coloured check façade.
THE HYPOGEUM OF THE VOLUMNI – Not far from the town, in direction of Assisi, it represents without doubt one of the most interesting and complete Etruscan tombs existing. It is a family tomb dating back to the 2nd century B.C. , formed of a vestibule – built in the19th century – where are numerous cinerary urns, and of a sepulchral room divided into different cells, where there are seven urns among which the most important is that of Arunte Volumnio.
THE HYPOGEUM OF SAN MANNO – situated in the suburb of Ferro di Cavallo, this Etruscan tomb, incorporated in a structure of medieval origin, dates back to the end of the 2nd century; built of travertine, it has a barrel-vault and an important inscription on a cell which commemorates the dead Larte and Aule Precu.
THE HYPOGEUM OF THE VILLA SPERANDIO – In the environs of Porta Sant'Angelo there is this tomb dug down into the tufa at a depth of 5 metres ; the interior preserves a marble sarcophagi, the tomb of a priestess; the precious funeral outfit is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Florence.