Yes — Perugia is Umbria's lively, underrated capital
✅ Reasons to go
- Corso Vannucci is one of Italy's best evening passeggiata streets
- Home to Perugina chocolate (Baci)
- Two major art galleries (Galleria Nazionale)
- University city = young, lively atmosphere
- Umbria Jazz Festival (July) is world-class
- Gateway to Assisi, Orvieto, and Spoleto
❌ Reasons to skip
- Not conventionally beautiful — some concrete suburbs
- Steep hills and limited parking
- Can feel quiet outside university term
- Fewer iconic sights than Tuscan rivals
- Getting there: no direct high-speed train
- Some gritty edges near the station
💡 Pro tip: Take the MiniMetro from the station to the centre — it's a fun ride and saves you the steep hill climb with luggage.
Bottom line
Perugia is worth visiting as an Umbria base — the evening passeggiata on the Corso, the chocolate, and the university energy give it a vitality that nearby hill towns lack.