places to stay and eat in Perugia
Feb 5th, 2008, 04:50 PM
#1
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places to stay and eat in Perugia
My husband and I are planning to stay in Perugia for 4 nights in March,taking day trips around Umbria. Good places to stay (in Perugia), see, and eat (in Umbria) would be greatly appreciated. Or should we stay in Assisi and do our daytrips from there??
Feb 5th, 2008, 07:03 PM
#2
I stayed one night in Perugia and one night in Assisi and was glad to stay in both. I think staying over in Assisi gives you a different experience than the tourist laden daytime-only experience, though it is quiet, and I don't think I would have wanted an additional day.
In Perugia I stayed at Brufani Palace, which was quite nice, included good views. It's up at the upper level of the town (a 10 euro cab ride from train station). As I was solo this trip I chose to have dinner at the hotel and it was excellent.
In Assisi I stayed at Hotel Unbra and while my single room was a bit pokey I liked the hotel and location and the price was extremely reasonable.
Lunch in Assisi was at a great restaurant across the way from the hotel recommended by the hotel; my dinner at the hotel was very nice.
In Perugia I stayed at Brufani Palace, which was quite nice, included good views. It's up at the upper level of the town (a 10 euro cab ride from train station). As I was solo this trip I chose to have dinner at the hotel and it was excellent.
In Assisi I stayed at Hotel Unbra and while my single room was a bit pokey I liked the hotel and location and the price was extremely reasonable.
Lunch in Assisi was at a great restaurant across the way from the hotel recommended by the hotel; my dinner at the hotel was very nice.
Feb 5th, 2008, 09:12 PM
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We stayed three nights at Mini Hotel Primavera in Perugia. It's in a fascinating part of the old town, and terrific value if you can manage a few flights of stairs [no lift]. We had a lovely meal at Bellini, which was down a side street. Sorry I can't give you the address. Also there's a wonderful pizzeria to the south of the Cathedral, and a marvellous gelateria at the other end of the main drag.
Feb 5th, 2008, 09:32 PM
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Francegirl:
We loved The Fortuna on the top level of town...ivy covered, no less...easy walk to all the main parts of town...and the escalator system to bring you down to other levels is quite a thing to experience...(goes down to the parking garage "Partisano"
Here's a link for Fortuna:
http://tinyurl.com/28eqqv
Stu T.
We loved The Fortuna on the top level of town...ivy covered, no less...easy walk to all the main parts of town...and the escalator system to bring you down to other levels is quite a thing to experience...(goes down to the parking garage "Partisano"
Here's a link for Fortuna:
http://tinyurl.com/28eqqv
Stu T.
Feb 6th, 2008, 05:54 AM
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Hi Francegirl, I'm very envious. I love Umbria and Perugia in particular. I spent a week there in June 2007, followed by four days in Assisi (and a few other places as well)
As Stu just mentioned, the Hotel Fortuna in Perugia is great! I was travelling solo, pestered them for a room with a view, and wound up with a huge doubleroom on the top floor, with a large terrace that looked down on the little street in front of the Fortuna, and on to the Corso Vannucci. This large pedestrian thoroughfare was named after the painter, Perugino, whose actual names was Pietro Vannucci. It's essentially the living room of old Perugia, a great place to watch the evening passeggiata and is lined with lovely cafes and shops.
I didn't have a car, so I found Perugia was a great base for getting around Umbria, because it's very easy to get from the hilltop historic centre, where I stayed, down to the bus station, or the train station. Assisi might not be a bad base either, however -- and they're so close together (you can see the lights of Assisi from the old area of Perugia) that it might not make a huge difference.
Perugia, however, is a lot bigger so if you, like me, enjoying being someplace where you can stroll around after dinner -- and have lots of dinner choices! -- Perugia might be better.
I found a lot of good restaurants in Perugia (altho that's always a matter of taste!)but there are some good picks in Assisi as well.
My favourite place to eat in Perugia was a little wine bar on a narrow street below the Duomo, in the university area. La Tana Dell'Orso is on Via Ulisse Rocchi, 32. It's also a pedestrian street, so there's room for a few outdoor tables, but a good atmosphere inside. Huge salads, great wine selection; antipasto plate to die for. The staff really know their cheeses and salsicces.
Nearby is Osteria del Gambero (Ubu Re). Behind Duomo at 8, Via Balderschi. A bit on the pricey side, the service was excellent. The place is very modern, and the food as well.
For great pizza at a really cheap price, try Pizzeria Mediterraneo on Piazza Piccinino (right across from the front door of the Duomo). It's small and there are always lineups but if you get there right at their opening time, you stand a chance!
There's also a good restaurant (I'll look for the name is you like)on a steep street that runs alongside the Hotel Fortuna that's very good and inexpensive.
In Assisi, I also stayed at the Hotel Umbra but decided after one night in a tiny single there, to upgrade to a better double room for single use. Not much more expensive but way more room. The Umbra is delightful, great staff and good breakfasts. It has a gorgeous open-air restaurant.
I also liked the Osteria Piazetta de la Erba, on Via SanGabriele dell’Addolorata. It's just a few steps off the main square in Assisi and has a lovely outdoor patio. Fantastic food, although a bit pricey. For a cheaper meal, the Pizzeria de Duomo, is fantastic. Full of locals, inexpensive -- but it's a bit of a climb to get up there from the main square, the Piazza del Commune Actually, anywhere you go in Assisi is a bit of a climb!
I think the best meal of my entire trip to Umbria was in Gubbio. Gubbio is a beautiful city to visit and I thought the Locanda del Cantiniere ristorante, on Via Dante, was fantastic. It's about a 15 minute walk from the Piazza Grande, near the funicular (or Bucket of Bolts, as it's called by Maitai Tom who posts here) The young couple that runs the Locanda are wonderful, service is great, food extraordinary.
Have fun in Umbria!
As Stu just mentioned, the Hotel Fortuna in Perugia is great! I was travelling solo, pestered them for a room with a view, and wound up with a huge doubleroom on the top floor, with a large terrace that looked down on the little street in front of the Fortuna, and on to the Corso Vannucci. This large pedestrian thoroughfare was named after the painter, Perugino, whose actual names was Pietro Vannucci. It's essentially the living room of old Perugia, a great place to watch the evening passeggiata and is lined with lovely cafes and shops.
I didn't have a car, so I found Perugia was a great base for getting around Umbria, because it's very easy to get from the hilltop historic centre, where I stayed, down to the bus station, or the train station. Assisi might not be a bad base either, however -- and they're so close together (you can see the lights of Assisi from the old area of Perugia) that it might not make a huge difference.
Perugia, however, is a lot bigger so if you, like me, enjoying being someplace where you can stroll around after dinner -- and have lots of dinner choices! -- Perugia might be better.
I found a lot of good restaurants in Perugia (altho that's always a matter of taste!)but there are some good picks in Assisi as well.
My favourite place to eat in Perugia was a little wine bar on a narrow street below the Duomo, in the university area. La Tana Dell'Orso is on Via Ulisse Rocchi, 32. It's also a pedestrian street, so there's room for a few outdoor tables, but a good atmosphere inside. Huge salads, great wine selection; antipasto plate to die for. The staff really know their cheeses and salsicces.
Nearby is Osteria del Gambero (Ubu Re). Behind Duomo at 8, Via Balderschi. A bit on the pricey side, the service was excellent. The place is very modern, and the food as well.
For great pizza at a really cheap price, try Pizzeria Mediterraneo on Piazza Piccinino (right across from the front door of the Duomo). It's small and there are always lineups but if you get there right at their opening time, you stand a chance!
There's also a good restaurant (I'll look for the name is you like)on a steep street that runs alongside the Hotel Fortuna that's very good and inexpensive.
In Assisi, I also stayed at the Hotel Umbra but decided after one night in a tiny single there, to upgrade to a better double room for single use. Not much more expensive but way more room. The Umbra is delightful, great staff and good breakfasts. It has a gorgeous open-air restaurant.
I also liked the Osteria Piazetta de la Erba, on Via SanGabriele dell’Addolorata. It's just a few steps off the main square in Assisi and has a lovely outdoor patio. Fantastic food, although a bit pricey. For a cheaper meal, the Pizzeria de Duomo, is fantastic. Full of locals, inexpensive -- but it's a bit of a climb to get up there from the main square, the Piazza del Commune Actually, anywhere you go in Assisi is a bit of a climb!
I think the best meal of my entire trip to Umbria was in Gubbio. Gubbio is a beautiful city to visit and I thought the Locanda del Cantiniere ristorante, on Via Dante, was fantastic. It's about a 15 minute walk from the Piazza Grande, near the funicular (or Bucket of Bolts, as it's called by Maitai Tom who posts here) The young couple that runs the Locanda are wonderful, service is great, food extraordinary.
Have fun in Umbria!
Feb 6th, 2008, 06:10 AM
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sacc, thanks so much - your feedback is so helpful, as is everyone else's. I had also found the Fortuna on venere.com, and while trying to make my decision, I knew that if I chose Perugia we'd stay there. As it happens, they have availability, so am going to book now. I agree about being in Assisi after all the daytrippers leave, so I might do 2 nights in Assisi and 2 in Perugia, even thought they're so close.
The restaurant suggestions are great too!!
The restaurant suggestions are great too!!
Feb 6th, 2008, 06:31 AM
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Hi francegirl,
I am jealous
Perugia is a great place to stay and daytrip from. There are lots of very convenient bus connections to towns all over Umbria, and they leave from Piazza Partigiani (which is right outside the walls and you can reach it via the scale mobili (escalators)).
I don't have a great recommendation on a place to stay, because I have always stayed in the same place and while it is clean and very nice and centrally located and a reasonable price, I wouldn't call it a "wow" hotel. It is called Hotel Priori, in case you are interested in checking it out. Steps away from Corso Vannucci.
The best pizzeria in all of Perugia (in my opinion) is Pizzeria Etruschetto. It is on Corso Garibaldi and is near the Universita' per Stranieri in Piazza Fortebraccio. It is owned and run by a man from Naples and he KNOWS pizza. Extremely reasonable prices for pizza, wine, beer, and appetizers.
We also really liked "dal mi' cocco" which is right across the street from the pizzeria on Corso Garibaldi. "dal mi' cocco" literally means "from my head" and each day you eat whatever the chef prepares.
I would say those were my two faves. Sadly, even though I lived in San Sisto for more than a year, I have no more restaurant recommendations because I had no money.
I posted a trip report from my 2004 trip with my husband. We spent several days in Perugia and the surrounding area. You can check it out if you want more detailed info about the hotel or the restaurants I mentioned.
have fun!!
I am jealous
Perugia is a great place to stay and daytrip from. There are lots of very convenient bus connections to towns all over Umbria, and they leave from Piazza Partigiani (which is right outside the walls and you can reach it via the scale mobili (escalators)).I don't have a great recommendation on a place to stay, because I have always stayed in the same place and while it is clean and very nice and centrally located and a reasonable price, I wouldn't call it a "wow" hotel. It is called Hotel Priori, in case you are interested in checking it out. Steps away from Corso Vannucci.
The best pizzeria in all of Perugia (in my opinion) is Pizzeria Etruschetto. It is on Corso Garibaldi and is near the Universita' per Stranieri in Piazza Fortebraccio. It is owned and run by a man from Naples and he KNOWS pizza. Extremely reasonable prices for pizza, wine, beer, and appetizers.
We also really liked "dal mi' cocco" which is right across the street from the pizzeria on Corso Garibaldi. "dal mi' cocco" literally means "from my head" and each day you eat whatever the chef prepares.
I would say those were my two faves. Sadly, even though I lived in San Sisto for more than a year, I have no more restaurant recommendations because I had no money.
I posted a trip report from my 2004 trip with my husband. We spent several days in Perugia and the surrounding area. You can check it out if you want more detailed info about the hotel or the restaurants I mentioned.
have fun!!
Feb 6th, 2008, 07:11 AM
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if you are looking for a more budget pick for an overnight in Assisi, you might consider St. Anthony's guest house - it has a fine location in the town and has a pleasant feel - though as I recall no double beds! My husband and I stayed there quite a number of years ago - for what you save, you can skip their meals, which at that time were fairly bare bones as you would expect, and splurge elsewhere.
Assisi is a lovely town and setting - Id say 1 day and night would be adequate (I agree you want to stay overnight so you can enjoy through a full day cycle, unless you want to use it as a base to explore other towns. Since Assisi is a pilgimage site you might want to visit weekdays - also, Easter and Holy Week fall in March this year, so you may want to time your visit to coincide (or not coincide) with these major church holidays.
Assisi is a lovely town and setting - Id say 1 day and night would be adequate (I agree you want to stay overnight so you can enjoy through a full day cycle, unless you want to use it as a base to explore other towns. Since Assisi is a pilgimage site you might want to visit weekdays - also, Easter and Holy Week fall in March this year, so you may want to time your visit to coincide (or not coincide) with these major church holidays.
