Perugia, Italy: Raphael's Teacher's Hometown

Perugia's artist Pietro Vannucci, nicknamed Perugino, was Raphael's teacher. He founded the Umbrian School of Painting here. Perugia was founded by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC. It has been part of the Roman Empire, an independent city-state, and the Papal States under Pope Paul III, before finally joining the Italian Republic. It has a city gate that is over 2,000 years old. One of the seven gates of the Etruscan city wall. It was built in the second half of the 3rd century BC and restored by Augustus in 40 BC. In front of the arch is the University for Foreigners of Perugia. The classic product of Perugina, Baci, means "kiss" in Italian. Baci was founded in 1922. Legend has it that Luisa, the founder of Baci, fell in love with a boy in a chocolate factory. She made handmade chocolates for him every day and wrote love notes to put in the chocolates. The most beautiful road in the mountain city is called Acquedotto, which is 4 km long. In the Middle Ages, people transported water from Mount Pacciano through here to the fountain in the city center. Another miracle created by the Romans, this aqueduct was abandoned in 1835, but is now one of Perugia's classic pedestrian streets, leading all the way to the city center. The Maggiore Fountain in the November 4th Square in the city center. Opposite is the Duomo Cathedral. In this small square, there are two museums to visit: the National Museum of Umbria in the Palazzo dei Priori and the Museo del Capitolo, which houses many works by artists who once lived in Perugia and the surrounding area, such as Luca Signorelli, Perugino, and Pinturicchio.