Plazza 4 november;Perugia;Umbria;Italia

Getty Images/Photon RM

Cattedrale di San Lorenzo

Perugia


Lording it over Piazza IV Novembre is Perugia's stark medieval cathedral. A church has stood here since the 900s, but the version you see today was begun in 1345 from designs created by Fra Bevignate. Building continued until 1587, although the main facade was never completed. Inside you'll find dramatic late-Gothic architecture, an altarpiece by Signorelli and sculptures by Duccio. The steps in front of the facade are where seemingly all of Perugia congregates; they overlook the pink-and-white Fontana Maggiore.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Perugia attractions

1. Fontana Maggiore

0.02 MILES

The centrepiece of Piazza IV Novembre, the delicate pink-and-white marble Fontana Maggiore was designed by Fra Bevignate and built by father-and-son team…

2. Piazza IV Novembre

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In Perugia all roads seem to lead to Piazza IV Novembre. This historic square, flanked by Palazzo dei Priori and the Cattedrale, has been at the heart of…

3. Sala dei Notari

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The Sala dei Notari was built from 1293 to 1297 and is where the nobility met. The arches supporting the vaults are Romanesque, covered with vibrant…

4. Pozzo Etrusco

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Just north of Piazza IV Novembre, you can venture down an Etruscan well. Dating from the 3rd century BC, the 37m-deep cylindrical shaft was the main water…

5. Palazzo dei Priori

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Flanking Corso Vannucci, this Gothic palace, constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries, is architecturally striking with its tripartite windows,…

6. Nobile Collegio della Mercanzia

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The Nobile Collegio della Mercanzia, HQ of Perugia's medieval merchants guild, features a 14th-century audience chamber with exquisite wood panelling.

7. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria

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Umbria's foremost art gallery is housed in Palazzo dei Priori on Perugia's main strip. Its collection, chronologically displayed over 40 rooms, is one of…

8. Casa Museo di Palazzo Sorbello

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This exquisite 17th-century mansion, once owned by the aristocratic Sorbello family, has been restored to its frescoed, gilt-clad, chandelier-lit, 18th…