Assisi and Perugia Trip Guide

Student Handbook Trip Guide to Assisi & Perugia

ASSISI

Birthplace of St. Francis. Here you will meet Giotto and Cimabue face to face. On World Heritage List.

Foro Romano e Museo Archeologico - via Portica. tel. 075 8155077. 10-13, 14:30-18. An interesting walk under the piazza, through the town's original Roman forum. Roman, Etruscan sculpture, fragments. € 4

Basilica di San Francesco - The basilica was designed by Brother Elias of Cortona, one of the first followers of St. Francis. On July 16, 1228, Francis was canonized by Pope Gregory IX, and the church was begun the day after. It was completed in 1253. Possibly the greatest and most important collection of early renaissance paintings in the world. Proper dress is required to enter San Francesco. Closed for mass at various times.

Lower church: open 6-18:45.

Right transept - Cimabue, Madonna and Child with St. Francis
North transept - Giotto (attr.), scenes from the life of the Virgin and the childhood of Christ and Miracle of St Francis in Sessa
Magdalene Chapel of the Lower Church between the northern transept and the nave - Giotto, Scenes from the Life of Mary Magdalene
Nave - Master of St. Francis, Scenes from the Passion of Christ
Apse, crossing vault - Giotto, Allegories of Poverty, Chastity, Obedience, St. Francis in Glory
South Transept Cappella di San Martino of Simone Martini
South Transept and left of altar, Pietro Lorenzetti, Passion of Christ
Sepulchre of St. Francis.

Upper Church: open 8:30-18:45.

Giotto's Life of St. Francis
Top, Scenes from Old and New Testament, Master of St. Francis, Cavallini, Jacopo Torriti, Isaac Master frescoes of the life of Isaac
Behind choir, Cimabue damaged frescoes

Treasury & F.M. Perkins Collection of the basilica: Lorenzetti, Fra Angelico, Masolino, Signorelli.

Duomo - Piazza San Rufino. Romanesque facade, Museo Diocesano and Crypt museum, 10-13, 15-18 closed Wed, with Roman sarcophagus, columns. € 3.50

Pinacoteca Comunale - Via San Francesco - Tel. 075812033. 10-13, 14-18. Giotto, Puccio Capanna.

Santa Chiara - (1257) St. Clare's church; the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis; a powerful cult church experience.

Temple of Minerva - a Roman temple (now a church, only the facade remains) that inspired Goethe (Italian Journey) to walk all the way from Perugia to see it.

Books: Zubboli - 19 Piazza Del Comune, tel. 075 812318. Hand-made books, fine papers, art books.

PERUGIA

The capital of Umbria, a lively city, full of students, including from the University for Foreigners. At 5 PM is the passeggiata: everyone in town strolls up and down the Corso, looking good. Buses can't go to the center, so we are dropped off at the Minimetrò station Pian di Massiano, about 15 minutes away. You get the ticket from a machine first, €1.50, and ride to Station Pincetta in the center. Minimetrò runs about every 3 minutes, and closes at 9:05 pm.

Arco Etrusco - Etruscan gate of the city (2-1C BC).

Cappella di San Severo - Piazza Raffaello 13. 10-13:30, 14:30-18:30 A fresco by Raphael. € 2.50

Collegio del Cambio - Corso Vannucci, 25. 9-12:30, 14:30-17:30 tel. 075 5728599. Perugino's frescoed room. € 2.60

Fontana Maggiore - (1275) central fountain by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano.

Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria - Palazzo dei Priori, Corso Vannucci, 19. Tues-Sun 8:30-19:30 tel. 075 5721009. Duccio, Perugino, Fra Angelico, Piero della Francesca, Arnolfo di Cambio, Agostino di Duccio, the Master of St. Francis, Gentile di Fabriano, Orazio Gentileschi, Pietro di Cortona. € 6.50

Ipogeo dei Volumni - 6 km southeast of Perugia, Ponte San Giovanni. 9:30-13, 15:30-18:30, tel 075 393329. Large Etruscan tomb site, detailed sarcophagi. The highway was built right through it. € 2.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell'Umbria - National Archeological Museum of Umbria - ex Convento di S. Domenico, Piazza G. Bruno, 10 (crosses Corso Cavour). Tel. 075 5727141. 8:30-19:30. Large prehistoric section, Etruscan and Roman section: cinerary urns, bronzes, Greek vases, bucchero (black pottery). € 4.

Museo dell’Accademia di Perugia - Piazza San Francesco al Prato 5. Thurs. - Sun 10-13, 15:30-18, € 5. Gipsoteca - great plaster cast collection: 3 Graces of Canova, Farnese Hercules, Lacoon, many more.

Rocca Paolina - built by A. de Sangallo (1540). Subterranean streets, remains of medieval quarter. An escalator goes through it to the center.

Sant'Angelo - 5-6C early Christian church. 14C Gothic portal, 15C frescoes. 16 columns with Roman capitals.

San Bernardino - Piazza San Francesco al Prato. Polychrome relief facade by Agostino di Duccio (1457).

San Pietro - Borgo XX Giugno. 10C, below is a small early Christian church. Sacristy, 4 small Peruginos; presbytery, inlaid wooden choir (1525).

Umbria Jazz - Piazza Danti 28. Tel. +39 075 5732432. July 5-14. Diana Krall, Sonny Rollins, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack Dejohnette, John Legend, Dee Dee Bridgewater & Ramsey Lewis, Wynton Marsalis... Tickets are already on sale.

Student Handbook Trip Guide > Rome > Florence > Siena > Sansepolcro & Arezzo > Perugia & Assisi > Todi & Umbria