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Paige Hannah
February 3, 2008

La Passiggiata

Perched delicately on top of a hill, Perugia is a captivating Italian city that has no
shortage of character. Capital of the Umbria region in the heart of Italy, Perugia possesses a
very unique dynamic; a city filled with both Italians and stranieri, or foreigners. Yet with its
bright pastel buildings and lively open‐air markets, Perugia remains quintessentially Italian.
   Though Perugia is often overshadowed by tourists flocking to nearby Florence, this is
not a city to simply pass by. As a university town with a thriving social scene, Perugia is often a
destination for students, both Italian and foreign alike. However, Perugia graciously welcomes
visitors, giving temporary citizenship to anyone willing to navigate its steep and winding streets.
   Immersed in a past of 3,000 years, the city is a virtual layer cake of culture and history.
Built on Etruscan foundations, Perugia has also had a great deal of Roman and medieval
influence. Today, the character of the city is strikingly cosmopolitan, but walking under the
Etruscan arch or along the aqueduct, sitting neatly amid apartments, shops and cafés, gives you
the distinct feeling that this is a city well preserved, with a history still very much alive.
   Ask any Italian, and they will gladly tell you the importance of tradition in Italy. Whether
it is a birthday, national holiday, or just the simple enjoyment of life, there is always a
celebration. If visiting Perugia in late January, it is well worth any traveler’s time to partake in
the events of Festa di San Costanzo. This Perugian holiday is held to honor of Saint Costanzo,
one of three of Perugia’s patron saints and formerly the first bishop of the city.  On January
29th, piazzas drenched in morning sun are brimming with adults and children clad in scarves and
thick coats. Though the majority of stores are closed for the occasion, most individuals spend
the entire day out in the city. Markets, food stands and games are everywhere, but be sure to
venture down Corso Vanucci, the wide strip in the heart of the city connecting Perugia’s two
central piazzas, Piazza IV Novembre and Piazza Italia. Here, one has opportunity to enjoy free
torcolo, a traditional baked treat similar to fruitcake that is made during this time of year.
   Another quintessential experience to be had on Festa di San Costanzo is the open‐air
market on Corso Cavour. Rows upon rows of stands and tents selling various products line the
streets. Purses, shoes, fresh produce, meats, cheeses, jewelry, sheets, delicious Perugina

Paige Hannah
February 3, 2008

chocolate, and even kitchenware can all be purchased here. The air is filled with a combination
of the sweet smell of leather and the scent of hot panini being made right before you. Even if
your Italian is limited to “ciao” and “gelato,” there is no mistaking the sound of vendors offering
samples and chatting happily with their customers in an effort to make the sale. Clothing and
linens hanging from the top of the stands flap gently in the slight January breeze, as patrons
meander slowly from stand to stand, some simply purchasing their daily vegetables, others in
search of a new treasure. Friends greet each other happily with the customary two kisses, and
children munch happily on rice cakes drizzled with chocolate. Even if you aren’t looking for
anything in particular, it is well worth the experience to relish in the joy of a day off, reveling in
the simplicity of taking a passiggiata through the market.

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La Passigiata

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La Passigiata