Photos of Assisi and Perugia, medieval Umbria, Italy

Umbria
Images of the World
Flag of Italy

Assisi and Perugia, medieval Umbria

The landlocked region of Umbria is named after the Umbria, described by Pliny, the Roman naturalist, as the most ancient tribe of Italy. They predated the Etruscans, who founded the town of Perugia and Orvieto. The Etruscans later established powerful city-states here before being succeeded by the Romans, whose rule ended in the 5th and 6th centuries when fortified towns were built in response to invasions by “barbarians”. The region is one of Italy’s most beautiful, with unspoiled medieval towns.

Santa Maria degli Angeli
 
Cobbled street
 
Assisi from Santa Chiara
 
Assisi street
 
View from Rocca Maggiore
 
View to Rocco Maggiore
 
San Pietro Church
 
Basilica of St. Francis
 
Street corner
 
Perugia view
 
Alley in Perugia
 
OzOutback
 

Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi (born in 1182), the founder of the Franciscan order. After he died in 1226, the beautiful basilica was built in his honour, decorated with beautiful frescoes by Renaissance painters. One of St. Francis’ disciples was St. Clare, who founded the Order of the Poor Clares, the female order of the Franciscans. The town is an absolute gem, drawing millions of tourists and pilgrims; although recently severely damaged by an earthquake, the basilica has been restored.

Perugia is one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval hill towns, one of the Etruscans’ twelve powerful city-states in the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. The Romans conquered it in 310 BCE and called it Perusia. It had a violent history, both because of internal feuds and wars with neighbouring city-states. The Flagellants, a 13th-century Christian sect that practised whipping themselves to pay for their sins, originated here. Perugia became part of the Papal States in 1538.