Perugia, the capital of Italy’s Umbria region, is a city built across hills and centuries. Originally settled by the Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago, it still holds remnants of their civilization, including one of the largest surviving Etruscan arches in Italy named Arco Etrusco, which greets visitors at the city’s entrance. Walking through the narrow streets of the historic center reveals layers of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance architecture, all woven together within ancient stone walls.

One of Perugia’s most remarkable features is the underground city hidden beneath its surface. The Rocca Paolina, a 16th-century fortress built by Pope Paul III, was constructed over an entire medieval neighborhood. Today, escalators carry visitors through the vaulted corridors and cobbled streets of this preserved underground world, where parts of former homes, wells, and streets are still visible.

Culturally, Perugia is known for its festivals and long-standing art traditions. The Umbria Jazz Festival, held every July, brings international artists to open-air stages in piazzas and historic theaters. In October, Eurochocolate transforms the city into a massive open-air chocolate market, celebrating Perugia’s role as the home of the Baci chocolate, small, foil-wrapped sweets with love notes inside. Perugina, the chocolate company behind them, also offers tours and workshops at its nearby chocolate factory and museum.