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PERUGIA
Perugia was
the ancient centre of the Umbrians called Peroscia, then an
Dodecapoli Etruscan City by the name of Perusia (in 310 BC
it was thought to be one of the most important Etruscan cities)
then a Roman centre after seeing victory against the Etruscans
and with the alliance to Rome.
Reconstructed by Augusto and
named Augusta Perusia, it soon returned to a prosperous city.
It has maintained a good amount of its original structure.
After expansion of the old walled city during medieval times,
the City underwent huge building renovation. Devastated by
Totila, conquered by Narsete, it finally fell into the hands
of the Longobards who turned it into a Duchy seat (6th Century).
This move passed it under the protection and sovereignty of
the Church (8th Century), as well as being under the Guelph
insignia, against the neighbouring centres of Gubbio, Arezzo,
Siena, Todi, Foligno and Assisi. It became a Papal residence
(13th Century) and saw the building of many of its famous
monuments as well as more than 70 towers, which were built
on the wishes of the appellative of Turrena. Having to overcome
the collapse of its land, the City expanded in a stellar form,
with the historical districts of Porta Sole, Porta Sant’Angelo,
Porta Eburnea, Porta Santa Susanna and Porta San Pietro, each
one being characterized by an ample central road and numerous
tortuous and narrow lateral roads. It was not however, immune
to the struggles between factions: at the end of the 14th
Century, it was given to Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan;
then ruled under Braccio da Montone (1416-1424), and the Baglioni’s
against the Oddi, which saw a bloody battle until the end
of 540, the year in which the City was devastated by Pier
Luigi Farnese on behalf of Pope Paul III. In the 16th Century,
communal freedom was extinguished, and Pope Paul III had the
district which was built on the hills of Landone abolished,
where Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane, erected the fortress
which took its name from the Pope: La Rocca Paolina (demolished
in 1859, due to mob violence). The communal magistrates, with
only administrative powers, were all replaced in power by
the successor of Paolo III, Giulio III, and the City flourished
once again. During French domination (1798-1814) it was part
of the department of Trasimeno. In June 1859, the over zealous
Papal troops (“Stragi di Perugia”) came down heavily
on the rebellious Perugians who destroyed the Rocca Paolini
and who were then subsequently liberated from Papal dominion
on the arrival of the troops from Piemonte (September 1860).
A modern system of mechanised routes, constituted by a series
of long scale furniture, running in part on the exterior and
in part on the interior of ancient buildings, allows an easy
assent to the historical centre in the hills. The renowned
Umbria Jazz, one of the most important European festivals
in its field, takes place annually in Perugia and its principal
centres.
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