Rocca Paolina
Piazza Italia 11, Perugia, Italy, 06121
Stroll through the 16th century in Perugia’s atmospheric Rocca Paolina, an imposing papal fortress with an intact medieval cityscape hidden beneath the streets of the city center. Perugia’s main Piazza Partigiani transport hub sits just below the complex, and escalators carry visitors up through the Rocca Paolina to the main Corso Vannucci pedestrian thoroughfare above—a theatrical introduction to this historic hill town.
The basics
The Rocca Paolina is one of the most famous historic sights in Perugia’s old town and a highlight of Perugia walking tours, which typically also visit attractions like the Fontana Maggiore and Collegio del Cambio. Free and open to the public, this medieval fortress can be explored independently, perhaps before or after one of the city’s food tours or cooking classes in Perugia’s old town. You can also see its interiors, designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger—the most famous military architect of the 16th century—as you ride the escalator from the Piazza Partigiani parking and bus hub to street level above.
Things to know before you go
The maze of medieval alleyways and empty rooms inside the Rocca Paolina is fun for kids to explore.
The empty spaces inside the fortress are sometimes used to host markets, art exhibits, or other public events.
The small museum inside the fortress offers information about its history and design.
With several flights of stairs and escalators, the fortress is not accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
How to get there
Rocca Paolina sits beneath Perugia’s old town and can be entered on foot from below via the monumental Porta Marzia city gate—dating from Etruscan times but built into the fortress wall in the 16th century—or via the escalators from Piazza Partigiani. Otherwise, enter from the historic center above via the escalators in Piazza Italia.
When to get there
Visit the underground fortress any time when the escalators run, between 6:15am through to 1:45am. The complex is completely underground, so you can also duck in to explore while waiting out a rain shower or to escape the midday heat in summer.
Perugia’s underground treasures
The historic center of Perugia sits atop a number of historic sites hidden beneath the city streets, which offer a unique glimpse into the city’s history. In addition to Rocca Paolina, you can descend to the bottom of the Etruscan Well (Pozzo Etrusco) or join a guided group tour of Perugia Underground (Perugia Sotterranea), a below-ground itinerary past Etruscan and Roman remains.
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