Perugia

Yesterday, we took a bus ride to Perugia, a somewhat larger Umbrian city, home of the delicious Perugina chocolates, and an ancient rival of Assisi.  We rode through Collestrada, where a young Francis fought against Assisi's rival, was defeated, captured and imprisoned in a Perugian jail for a year. 
Perugia sits high on a hill.  Several years ago escalators were built to carry people up to the old part of town, passing through Sixteenth Century underground ruins on the way.

From there we walked along Corso Vannucci, a beautiful, wide old street, kept free from traffic, that takes one past many of Perugia's well preserved old buildings.

At the center of the above picture is Perugia's Duomo, or Cathedral of San Lorenzo, perhaps best described as "large" on the outside, but with an impressive interior.  Just before the Duomo is Fontana Maggiore.

Opposite the above is the Palazzo dei Priori, home of Perugia's city hall.  On the old Palazzo facade are a lion (for papal allegiance) and a griffin (for Perugia). 

In sorting out history, it's ineresting that a city loyal to the popes would vie fiercely with the the home of Saint Francis (although Assisi itself often was divided in it's loyalties).  Francis, thankfully, eventually opted for "pace e bene" (peace and goodness) over continued military pursuits.  

Continuing along we observed some interesting storefronts.

This one, with the name Faberge, was strictly for window shopping.

We also wandered some back streets.

And enjoyed some fine views.

Before making our way back to Assisi.

Ciao.