Remembering Perugia

It seems quite a few weeks ago now since I was watching the very exciting "Giro d'Italia and admiring those amazing men who rode their bikes, sometimes at amazing speed, sometimes up extraordinarily steep hills (often mountains) and after around 200Km of it could sprint to the finish line as though they were just starting the race. I recognise that they are men whose breed is physically well above mine. Each year I look forward to the wonderful views of Italy that we see as we follow the race. This year I was reminded of Perugia, among other places in the country that have captivated me. I had the good fortune to live in Perugia for a while during my studies at the city's University for Foreigners, a beautiful period of my live. I was not in Perugia for more than an hour or two before I fell in love with it. Its position is no less than superb, situated on a lofty hilltop, as all originally Etruscan settlements are. I recall with almost overwhelming pleasure the views of the surrounding countryside from one city of Perugia location after another, no matter what compass direction my eye took. I felt I could fly with eagles as I looked out upon the valleys below. The view from the hilltop of Perugia is not the whole of the city's call to me. The wonderful Etruscan arch outside the palazzo that is the headquarters building of the university is truly massive, dating from the third century BC and on top of which has a Roman structure above it and a medieval addition above that; the Etruscan well is a huge piece of civil engineering; the Roman aqueduct which still stands, now converted to a stone footpath; the stunning offices of two guilds in the Palazzo Priori; the fine cafes, the elderly churches, the outsize masonry of the Etruscan city walls; the fascinating covered market and smaller daily markets of various areas of the city. all this and more brings Perugia excitingly back to my mind. I can never forget the time I was fortunate enough to live there for a while. I have written about the compelling city of Perugia in my book, "Unpacking Italy". It is available in hardcovers, paperback, and eBook. I hope you will be tempted to purchase a copy and even more, I hope you will experience the journey through Italy contained in its pages.

Post Views : 46