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Perugia
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Football Italia City Guide
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| Perugia, also known as ‘Italy’s green heart,’ is just one of the many beautiful medieval hilltop villages and towns scattered throughout the region of Umbria. As well as breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside it has a captivating centre of alleys and lanes and can claim to host the region’s premier football club. |
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 Stadio: Renato Curi
Perugia’s stadium is dedicated to one of the team’s greatest ever players. Renato Curi captained the Biancorossi in the mid-1970s, but his tragic death - suddenly during a match against Juventus - turned him into an unforgettable local hero.
With a capacity of 26,524 it is by no means the biggest stadium in Serie A. However, plans have been drawn up to modernise the arena, introducing public leisure facilities, shops and hotels. When the work is likely to take place is still unsure.
The stadium is a few kilometres from the town centre, near the main railway station. Take the bus No 9 from Piazza Italia for the stadium. Tickets cost 80 cents from newsagents or the kiosk in Piazza Italia.
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 Match Tickets
Match day sales can be obtained from the two ticket offices outside the stadium. If you want to be in the Curva Nord or Tribuna Ovest with the Biancorossi supporters go to the office outside the Curva Nord. Visiting supporters can get tickets for the Tribuna Est or Curva Sud from the ticket office outside the Curva Sud.
For online ticket sales visit Perugia’s official website, www.perugiacalcio.it Print out the booking confirmation to take along to the appropriate ticket counter 2-3 hours before the match. You’ll also need ID of the credit card holder.
Tickets are also directly available from the local CARISPO bank. There are various branches around Perugia town centre.
Football Italia Ticket Info |
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 Out & About
> On a clear day go to as many of the town’s well sign posted punti panoramici (viewpoints) as possible. The one at the Giardini Carducci, behind Piazza Italia, has a map pointing out surrounding features and is also worth a look at night when the town below is floodlit.
> Do as the locals do and have a passeggiata. The focus of this early evening stroll up and down Corso Vannucci is the remarkable 13th Century fountain, the Fontana Maggiore. It is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the months of the year and various Old Testament scenes. If you get weary, feel free to sit for a while on the steps of the Duomo or pop into the Collegio del Cambio and the Sala dei Notari to admire the beautiful frescoes.
> Wander round the Rocca Paolina. This old castle is right in the centre of Perugia. The easiest way to get in is by taking the escalator down inside the Rocca from Piazza Italia. The escalators are used to transport people to the car parks below, but you can get off half way and explore the covered streets and the cavernous rooms, often used for exhibitions.
> Two of Perugia’s more interesting churches are out of the town centre. The splendid Chiesa di San Pietro is downhill out of Porta S. Pietro, while the curious circular Tempio di San Michele Archangelo is uphill behind Piazza Danti.
> Chocolate! You’ll have trouble leaving Perugia without trying any at all. World famous Perugina have a shop in Corso Vannucci, while local rivals Talmone’s (Via Maestà dell Volte 12) is an attraction in itself, with Roman roads and Etruscan remains on display.
> Catch a train to Assisi, only about 20 minutes away. The pretty town, home of St Francis, is well worth seeing despite the mass of tourists.
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Food & Drink
In the UK the most famous Umbrian wine is probably the white Orvieto. Here it’s not rated that highly and you may find yourself being steered towards the locally produced reds. The full-bodied Sagrantino di Montefalco is certainly one to try. It is one of only 22 DOCG wines in Italy - the G means its origin is not only controlled but also guaranteed.
The region is also well known for its olive oil. Try bruschetta - toast sprinkled with oil and salt. You can really taste the olives. Another local flavour is truffle and you’ll be hard pushed to find a menu without them. A good choice is the frittata con tartufo (truffle flavoured omelette). Pasta fans should go for the strangozzi, a kind of thick spaghetti often cooked with mushrooms.
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Restaurants
> Il Cantinone, Via Ritorta 6 (Tel: 0039-075-5734430). Curved ceilings and good local food in a picturesque corner just behind the main square.
> Ristorante del Sole, Via Oberdan 28. Make sure you get a seat by the window, or out on the terrace if weather permits. The views are among Perugia’s best.
> La Vecchia Perusia, Via U. Rocchi 9 (Tel: 0039-075-5725900). Another good one for traditional Umbrian food.
> Dal Mi’cocco, Corso Garibaldi 12 (Tel: 0039-075-5732511). This is the place to go if you’re hungry. For 13 Euros you get a four-course set meal, all good local food, and filling.
> Bottega del Vino, Via del Sole 1 (Tel: 0039-075-5716181). Wine bar by night, wine shop by day, overlooking Perugia’s main square. Good for an aperitivo or a light meal.
> Enoteca Provinciale, Via U. Rocchi 18 (opposite La Vecchia Perusia trattoria). Another wine shop with tables, so you can sample in comfort before buying your liquid souvenirs.
> Caffè di Perugia, Via Mazzini 10. This is listed among Italy’s best bars. Also has restaurant and grill upstairs and wine bar downstairs. Their own chocolate is delicious.
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Accomodation
> Hotel Rosalba (Via del Circo 7, Tel: 0039-075-5728285, Fax 5720626). Welcoming little hotel just below the Rocca Paolina - handy for the escalators into the centre.
> Albergo Fortuna (Via Bonazzi 19, Tel: 075-5722845, Fax 5735040). Comfortable hotel in lovely ivy-covered building, very central.
> Hotel La Rosetta (Piazza Italia 19, Tel/Fax: 0039-075-5720841): Slightly more expensive hotel in the city centre. Lovely building and picturesque courtyard.
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Getting there...
Fly to Rome: For the cheapest flights visit www.ryanair.com or www.gofly.com
From Fiumicino airport take the Leonardo Express train to Termini station (8.80 Euros each way, leaves every half-hour). Frequent trains set off from here to Perugia (get off at the main station, Perugia Fontiveggi). You may have to change in Foligno.
From Rome Ciampino airport catch a bus the short distance to the Anagnina underground station, take the Metropolitana to Termini and proceed as above. Buy your ticket, for 77 cents, before leaving the airport. The same ticket is valid for the bus and metro.
Alternatively, Perugia does have its own airport, called Sant’Egidio. AlItalia has two flights daily from Milano Malpensa, with connections from London.
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Local lingo
Posso assaggiare? - Can I have a taste?
Rigore! - Penalty!
Forza Grifo! - Up the Griffins!
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Compiled by: Sarah Lane
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