Urban exploration tracing the founders of Perugia, the ancient Etruscan Phersna
An itinerary that unveils the most significant monuments of Perugia, inherited from the enigmatic Etruscan people.
Perugia has very ancient origins, with evidence of settlements dating back to the 9th century BC. But it is between the 7th and 6th centuries BC that the city emerges as one of the most influential in the Etruscan area, taking on a dominant role in the surrounding region. During this period, the Etruscan Phersna experienced remarkable architectural development.
Start of the route: Etruscan Arch
The itinerary to discover Etruscan Perugia starts from the Etruscan Arch, located in Via Ulisse Rocchi, one of the city’s most distinctive symbols.
Built around the mid-3rd century BC with imposing blocks of travertine, the arch still retains its original structure, with two trapezoidal towers framing a façade composed of two overlapping round arches. In contrast, the other five gates of the city walls have undergone various modifications over the centuries.
Continuing along the Etruscan Walls
From the southern tower of the Etruscan Arch, you can walk up Via Battisti, a panoramic street that runs alongside a significant section of the Etruscan walls, built between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.
Today, only a few segments of these walls, which originally extended for about three kilometers, remain due to numerous later reconstructions.
The Acropolis and Underground Perugia
The heart of Perugia, coinciding with the ancient acropolis of Phersna, is located in Piazza IV Novembre. Beneath the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, there is a fascinating underground archaeological route, accessible from the Capitular Museum in the cloister of the palace adjacent to the cathedral.
This route leads to the discovery of important archaeological finds, including the city’s main temple, the terracing walls of the Etruscan acropolis, and segments of roads used in both Etruscan and Roman times.
The Etruscan Well
In the same square, in the undergrounds of the 17th-century Bourbon-Sorbello Palace, lies an extraordinary example of ancient hydraulic engineering: the Etruscan Well, dating back to the second half of the 3rd century BC.
This well, 37 meters deep, is dug into a sedimentary soil called “mandorlato tuff”. The upper part of the well is a cylindrical cavity with a diameter of 5.6 meters, lined with large travertine blocks similar to those of the city walls. After 12 meters, the diameter narrows to 3 meters, reaching its maximum depth, where it collects water from three perennial springs.
Porta Marzia
Continuing from Piazza IV Novembre along Corso Vannucci, you reach Piazza Italia and the majestic Rocca Paolina, a 16th-century papal fortress. Here lies one of the ancient Etruscan monumental gates, Porta Marzia, which once served as the southern entrance to the city.
During the construction of Rocca Paolina, the gate was partially dismantled and reassembled by architect Antonio da Sangallo, who managed to preserve a significant portion of it. The structure features images of Tinia/Iuppiter (Jupiter) flanked by two male figures, probably the Dioscuri, and two horse heads at the ends.
The National Archaeological Museum of Umbria
The itinerary concludes at the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria, which houses numerous Etruscan artifacts, many of which come from the lavish tombs of aristocratic families in the region, such as the famous Ipogeo dei Volumni. Among the most curious artifacts is the kottabos, a metal dish used in an Etruscan game during libations.
The museum also features a reconstruction of the Cai Cutu tomb, discovered in Perugia in 1983 in the Monteluce area.