On the list of the Most Beautiful Towns of Italy, (i Borghi piu belli d’Italia), the Middle Ages left an indelible imprint here and the many remains of a necropolis, which are preserved at the town hall, attest to its Etruscan origins. Moreover, according to an ancient legend, Corciano owes its name and its origins to a companion of Ulysses, Coragino.

Calm and beauty

You have to stroll its narrow streets where only a few cars dare disturb pedestrians enjoying the tranquility, most of the time with their favorite pet.

A coffee break in the central square will allow you to meet a few other locals who are just as relaxed, seated with their espresso and newspaper and who are quite happy to strike up a conversation.

Arts and architecture

Following the main street of the historic center, one meets the Palazzo municipale with its beautiful decorations (16th century), originally the residence of the Dukes of the Corgna.

A little further on, we come across the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo (dating back to the 15th century), an ancient residence next to the Palazzo dei Priori and of the Mercanzia.

We then reach the piazza Coragino, where a beautiful circular well from the 16th century sits.

A few churches, of course

On the right side stands the church of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the 13th century, which houses a few painted works of great value.

Another church, the Gothic church of St. Francis, also contains various works of art, including a Crucifix from the 16th century, in addition to frescoes of the school of Umbria and Siena dating from the XIV and XV centuries.

From here you can see the Torrione di Porta Santa Maria, the emblem of Corciano, built in 1482.

Our tour ends with a walk built on top of the ancient walls, where one can admire the magnificent surrounding landscape.

Certainly a favorite for all of those who stop!

Nearby 

Only 8 km separate Corciano and Perugia, an Etruscan city that is also worth a look.

It is pleasant to walk through the corso Vanucci, which crosses the old town of Perugia. At one end of the street stands a beautiful square, Piazza Italia, where from the terrace you can admire the newer parts of the city built on the hillside as well as a beautiful panorama.

At the other end, on Piazza IV November, you find the Fontana maggiore, a fountain carved in the 13th century by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, which adorn the front of the Gothic Duomo built between 1345 and 1490. One of the chapels of the Duomo houses a reliquary, which according to legend, would have been the wedding ring of the Virgin.

Opposite, on the square, stands the Palazzo dei Priori, the most beautiful public building in Perugia. A lion and a griffin, symbols of the city, guard the portal, which dates back to the 15th century.

A stop at the National Gallery of Umbria housed in a beautiful historical building is in order, if only to admire the magnificent altarpieces made by Piero della Francesca and Fra Angelico.

A kiss before leaving

Perugia is also the house of the "Baci", the chocolates that made the city famous. These Italian kisses, known all over the world, which are accompanied by a message of love, have been made for more than 90 years exclusively in Perugia. You have to get a few!

It is time to leave the old town by taking another attraction - a more modern one - the Minimétro, a work of the famous French architect Jean Nouvel. The automated train takes you from the old town, the upper part of the city, to the lower parts in about ten minutes (which would take you easily half an hour with the regular bus system).

These are two treasures in Italy - certainly a little less known than Rome, Florence and Venice - that did not fail to charm us and are certainly worth listing in the chapter with the rest of our beautiful discoveries!

Christiane Théberge

Corciano

Communal House, Corciano

 Belltower of Santa-Maria-Assunta Church

View on the surroundings of Corciano

At a terrace in Perugia

Palazzo dei Priori, Perugia