Perugia Is One Of Italy's Hidden Gems – Here's How To Make The Most Of It

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Located in Umbria, central Italy, the stunning city is steeped in ancient history, rustic architecture, and of course, the Italian cuisine we all know and love – so it's no surprise that Expedia has named it one of its top destinations in their Unpack '27 travel report.

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Simply walking around the streets of Perugia is something to behold, with each winding alley and cobbled staircase offering a new, gorgeous surprise. There are stunning rustic residences at every turn, and the medieval Fontana Maggiore is a masterpiece you don't want to miss. Everything's really close together, which makes it perfect for a day of exploring at a leisurely pace (and there are tons of delicious gelato spots for when you need a pick-me-up). My favourite part? The fact that Perugia sits on a hilltop – almost 500 metres above sea level – so you can really take in Italy's gorgeous valleys in all their panoramic glory.

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It may be underground, but the Perugian's haven't buried their rich history, which is over 2,500 years old. As we walked underneath the Old Town we were transported through time. We walked on real Roman roads and roamed the magnificent remains of homes of the Etruscans – the most powerful Pre-Roman civilisation in Italy. We learned all about the rich Etruscan culture, from Pagan gods to artworks that are older than Jesus – all the way up to their ultimate demise when they were conquered by the Romans.  

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Perugia also boasts a rather tasty history – it's the home of the iconic hazelnut pralines, Baci, which was founded in the 1920s and is still produced locally. The interactive museum takes you through the 5000-year history of chocolate, with loads of yummy testers along the way – it's a must-visit for chocolate lovers everywhere.

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And if you're looking for more of a Willy Wonka experience, Città del Cioccolato's got you – there's an immersive life-sized cocoa plant forest and even a helter-skelter! Sadly, the slide doesn't end in a pool of chocolate, but we can't have it all.

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We all know the best way to learn is by doing, so after finding out about Baci's history, it was time to get hands-on and make some ourselves. We went through the delicate production process step by step, from measuring out the perfect portions to tackling the tempered chocolate (it's harder than it sounds), and were left with our own handmade Baci from scratch. The best part? It was ~essential~ to taste-test all the ingredients (and lick the spoons) to make sure our treats turned out perfect.

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Perugians have been producing ceramics since the Middle Ages, so it would just be rude not to follow suit and give it a go ourselves. In the private session, you get to spend two hours under the direct instruction of local artist Caterina, who's an expert on the region's traditional coiling technique. We were given creative reign to design and make our own modern takes on the ancient technique, shaping Perugian souvenirs that are totally one of a kind.

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Just an hour's drive out of the city transports you out of Umbria and into the heart of the Tuscan countryside; a different vibe from Perugia, but equally as stunning. After all the sensory delights of the city, this was the perfect peaceful haven to truly unwind in. We stayed at the Precise Tale Poggio Alla Sala hotel near Montepulciano, a gorgeous sanctuary encased in acres of vineyards, surrounded by nature; watching the sunrise with those views was truly breathtaking.

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The town of Montepulciano is not only steeped in Medieval history, but also cinematic herstory: it served as the town of Volturra in the second Twilight film! The walking tour took us on the actual route Bella took when she was trying to save Edward, and you can even retrace the route that Alice took in the yellow Porsche (IYKYK). Our tour guide was a font of Twilight knowledge: we left with loads of scene-recreation pictures, local behind-the-scenes filming facts, and our inner children truly healed.

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Part of the tour took us to De' Ricci Cantine Storiche, a family-run winery that has been producing wine since the twelfth century. We got to follow in Edward Cullen's footsteps and walk through the underground crypts while learning all about what goes into making the perfect bottle of wine, complete with a delicious wine-tasting session led by one of the winery's experts.