Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
191
Stranieri (University for Foreigners), a major Italian-language and culture school.
Today's festivals and lively food, music, and business scenes continue to keep the
hills of Perugia alive with activity.
LAY OF THE LAND
Perugia is at the center of regional
rail
connections, an easy trip from Rome (2
1
⁄
4
hr.; try for the five daily direct trains, not those that transfer at Foligno) and from
Florence (transferring at Cortona, taking about 2
1
⁄
2
hr.). Trains also run almost
hourly to Todi (a 45-min. trip) and twice an hour to nearby Assisi, a 20-minute
ride.
Perugia's
bus
terminal at Piazza Partigiani also connects Perugia to Assisi,
Gubbio, and Todi (about a 1-hr. ride to each); to Florence (a 2-hr. ride, once
daily); and to Rome about six times a day for the 2
1
⁄
2
hour trip.
The
drive
to Perugia is about 185km (115 miles) from Rome, 145km (90
miles) from Florence. From Rome, take the A1 to Orte and connect to the A3.
From Florence, take the A1 south and connect to the A75. The roads around cen-
tral Perugia can be maddeningly confusing, so it may be easiest to park in the first
parking garage you see, and take an escalator to the historical district. Garages cost
€
7.75 for a day, if you pay upfront. Free parking can be had at a lot at Piazza del
Cupa, where you can walk to the series of long escalators bringing you to the
center.
Perugia's
tourist office
(
%
075-5736458)
is found in the southwest corner of
Piazza IV Novembre, and has a ton of pamphlets on both the city of Perugia and
the region of Umbria. It's open 8:30am to 1:30pm and 3:30 to 6:30pm daily,
Sundays from 9am to 1pm. The regional Umbrian tourist office located a couple
of blocks away is just an administrative headquarters, so don't bother going there.
Look for a copy of
Living Perugia,
a free monthly guide with restaurant, event,
and activity listings.
If you're planning to visit several of the museums in town, for a savings, pur-
chase the
Perugia Museo Card.
It comes in various denominations, from
€
7 to
€
35 depending on number of museums covered, people admitted, and length of
validity. Even if you're just planning on seeing the National Gallery and one or
two others, the
7 card is a good deal. The cards are sold at each attraction for
which they give entry.
Many Perugia hotels offer an Internet terminal in the lobby or a lounge. But
if you're stuck for Internet or business services in Perugia, try the
Internet Corner
(Via Ulisse Rocchi, 4, 1F;
%
075-5720901; daily 9:30am-midnight, Sun opens at
noon).
It has 30 computers, a phone center, fax, copying, and other services.
Internet costs
€
1.80 an hour at the shop around the cor-
ner from the University for Foreigners on Via Fabretti.
ACCOMMODATIONS, BOTH STANDARD & NOT
Long-stay visitors should turn to
Atena Service
(Via del Bulagaio, 38;
%
075-
5730821; www.atenaservice.com; no credit cards),
a booking agency used by
many foreign university students and some travelers for monthly-and-longer
lodgings. The apartments are basic but clean and well maintained, and rates are
cheap (
€
2.70 per hour here or
€
600 a
month for a one-bedroom apartment). The downsides: A service charge raises the
€
200 for a month for a double room in a shared apartment,
€
