Perugia is the capital of the Umbria region. The partnership agreement between Potsdam and Perugia was officially signed in 1990, however, contacts between both cities began in the 1980s.
The city in the heart of Italy - located between Lake Trasimeno and the valley of the Tiber river - is an interesting destination for tourists, a university city, and a center of culture. Unique buildings, such as the former Rocca Paolina fortress, the Palazzo dei Priori - which today is the seat of the mayor - the San Lorenzo cathedral, and the most famous fountain, the Fontana Maggiore, speak for the excellent craftsmanship of its builders and also for a history full of changes. Everywhere you look on a walk across the city you will find interesting monuments from a long history which dates back to the Etruscans. The outlook from the town wall, situated 500 meters above sea level, onto the villages and towns in the surrounding vicinity is truly fascinating. A special feature is the so-called scale mobile - a kind of moving staircase - which eases access to the grand old town.
Students from all over, not just Italy, are enrolled at the university, the University for Foreigners, the Academy of Fine Arts, and at the conservatory of music. Concerts, cultural festivals, and exhibits are important cultural events in the city. The Umbrian National Gallery and the Museum of Archaeology are also located in Perugia.
Textile and leather industries, as well as the production of ceramics, are of major importance for the local economy. Products of Perugia's chocolate industry are known and very popular across all of Italy. In addition, Perugia is the administrative center of the Umbrian region, which is considered to be the "green heart of Italy." The city has 158,313 inhabitants and covers an area of 449.92 square kilometers. Perugia presents itself online under the web address www.commune.perugia.it.
The Il Ponte Brandenburg Society of Friends of Italy and the city of Perugia were made for each other. From the first day of its foundation, the Society has attended the connections with the Umbrian city. The Society can be contacted by telephone at: +49 (0)331 - 878797 or via its website: www.il-ponte-potsdam.de. The Potsdam University also has good contacts with Perugia, and the Espengrund grammar school maintains a school partnership with a grammar school in the little town of Foligno, which is close to Perugia.
