Religious, Spiritual sights in Perugia
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Cathedral of San Lorenzo
On the north end of Piazza IV Novembre is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Although a church has been on this land since the 900s, the version you see was begun in 1345 from designs created by Fra Bevignate in 1300. Building of the cathedral continued until 1587, and the doorway was built in the late 1700s; however, the main facade was never completed. Inside you’ll find dramatic Gothic architecture, an altarpiece by Signorelli and sculptures by Duccio. The steps in front of the pink facade are where seemingly all of Perugia congregates.
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Oratorio di San Bernardino
After the canonization in 1450 of St Bernardino of Siena, who visited Perugia many times to preach, the local Franciscan order built a church to commemorate the saint. Designed by the Tuscan Agostino di Duccio in 1461, the Oratorio di San Bernardino is one of the best examples of Perugia's early Renaissance masterpieces. The bas-relief is layered with multicoloured marble, limestone and terracotta angels and musicians. Do check out the exterior polychrome façade.
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C
Chiesa di San Pietro
Just past the Porta di San Pietro is the 10th-century Chiesa di San Pietro, entered through a frescoed doorway in the first courtyard. The interior is an incredible mix of gilt and marble and contains a pietà (a painting of the dead Christ supported by the Madonna) by Perugino. Many of the paintings in this church feature depictions of biblical women.
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D
Chiesa di San Domenico
The city’s largest church is the early-14th-century Chiesa di San Domenico. It has a Romanesque interior, lightened by the immense stained-glass windows, that was replaced by austere Gothic fittings in the 16th century. Pope Benedict XI, who died after eating poisoned figs in 1325, lies buried here.
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E
Chiesa di Sant’Angelo
Via del Tempio branches off to the Romanesque Chiesa di Sant’Angelo, one of Italy’s oldest churches, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries. However, the remnants are even older; it’s said to stand on the site of a pagan temple, and several of its inside columns were taken from Roman structures.
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