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Lonely Planet – Perugia’s location along the slope of the prominent and iconic hills that define the Umbrian region has made it strategically important since the Etruscan era and its sizable student population counts an impressive number of foreign students.
Almost exactly halfway between Rome and Florence, Perugia has been a pilgrimage site for music lovers from around the world, who flock to the city every summer for the Umbria Jazz festival. And as the capital of the “green heart of Italy”, Perugia overflows with everything from truffles, olive oil and wine to, of course, chocolate.
With easy access to train lines, an airport just outside of the city, and driving routes that connect it to every major hub, Perugia is an ideal base camp to explore central Italy. But a word of caution: the city is enchanting to the point of seductive, so you may just want to stay a while!
