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Since 300 BC, a tiny bean called La Fagiolina del Trasimeno has been grown along the humid shores of Lake Trasimeno in Umbria. First planted here by the Etruscans, the variety was nearly extinct by the 1950s. Having survived the rise and fall of civilizations, barbarian invasions, the Black Plague, two world wars, and roughly thirteen centuries of civil instability, this nutrient-packed little treasure, became a victim of the modern age. Post-war migration away from the countryside and the inevitable planting of more lucrative crops nearly ended its more than 2,000-year reign.

Panini buonissimi (the best sandwiches). Personale gentilissimo (very kind staff). Consigliatissimo (highly recommended). These are a few superlatives culled from thousands of 5-star reviews of La Bottega di Perugia. This tiny Italian sandwich joint in Piazza Morlacchi is a cult…

Nestled among the ancient facades of Perugia’s historic center, the Antica Spezieria e Drogheria Bavicchi is a spice shop and neighborhood store that’s been in continuous operation since 1897. Stepping inside this noble, little shop will transport you back in…

Standing in Giardini Carducci, Perugia, with its 360-degree views of the rolling Umbrian countryside, it’s hard to imagine that directly underneath this leafy green canopy a bloody uprising once took place. As the history of this city goes, the story…

If you are shopping in Perugia, you’ll find a world of small shops and local restaurants on Via dei Priori in Perugia’s historic center. One of these, Materia Ceramica is the workshop of Maria Antonietta Taticchi, a ceramic artist who…

Thanks to Perugina and its world-famous Baci, the city of Perugia is known for chocolates. But there’s so much more to Perugia’s culinary scene for food-curious travelers! In Perugia you can try the best Umbrian foods in excellent restaurants that…

Italian truffles are the world’s most expensive gourmet food. In Umbria, Italy’s main truffle producing region, these precious culinary gems have flavored the economy for thirty centuries. Truffles are celebrated at festivals, venerated in museums and play a starring role…

Perugia’s Museum Workshop Giuditta Brozzetti (Il Museo-Laboratorio Giuditta Brozzetti) is about a 15-minute walk from Piazza IV Novembre. This hidden jewel, located inside a former thirteenth century church where Saint Francis and his disciples once lived and prayed, is dedicated…

In the showcase of architectural gems that grace the city of Perugia, Palazzo dei Priori, seat of the free commune (a.k.a. the municipal building) is arguably the crown jewel of the historic center. With its period-spanning ornamentation—overflowing with pomp and…

To put it mildly, Perugia’s Etruscan Arch (L’Arco Etrusco di Perugia) is a remarkable sight. Built by the Etruscans in the third century B.C., this impressive feat of architectural ingenuity remains largely intact and still stands strong after more than…