The most important church of Perugia is the Cathedral, but the biggest one is the basilica of San Domenico. The chapel of San Severo has been transformed into a museum.
Churches Perugia
Chapel of San Severo
The biggest attraction of the Chapel of San Severo is a fresco the top half of which was painted by Raphael and the bottom part by Perugino. The chapel has now been transformed into a small museum centered around this famous masterpiece.
Chiesa del Gesù
The Chiesa del Gesù is a 16th century Jesuit church in the Piazza Matteotti. Inside the church there are paintings by the famous artist Andrea Pozzo. The construction is quite unique and consists of four connecting halls. The architect, Giovanni Tristano, was a Jesuit himself.
Chiesa degli Olivetani
The Chiesa degli Olivetani, designed in 1740 by Luigi Vanvitelli, flanks the imposing bulk of the monastery itself, which was also designed by Vanvitelli with the help of Carlo Murena. The official name of this church, which is located in the Piazza Università, is Chiesa degli Olivetani di Montemorcino Nuovo.
Chiesa della Buona Morte
One of the most interesting curiosities about the Compagnia della (Buona) Morte Church is that it was founded with the aim of giving a proper burial to people people without means and to bodies found in public streets. It was constructed toward the end of the 16th century.
Church of Santa Maria Nuova
The Santa Maria Nuova Church in the Via Pinturicchio was built in the 13th century. The highlight is the Cappella del Crocifisso with its trompe-l’oeil paintings. Three Perugino paintings that used to grace the church are now in museums in Perugia and elsewhere.
Church of Santa Maria di Monteluce
The Church of Santa Maria di Monteluce in Perugia started its existence in the 13th century as part of a convent where the Benedictine nuns who settled here resided. Later the convent was taken over by the Franciscans before, after the Italian unification, becoming property of the state.
Church of San Bevignate
The Chiesa di San Bevignate was built between 1256 and 1262, at the same spot where there used to be a Roman washing place, ruins of which can be visited below the church. Inside the complex, you can see an important fresco cycle explaining the history of the Knights Templar.
Temple of San Michele Arcangelo
The Temple of San Michele Arcangelo is among the oldest churches in Perugia and is also one of the oldest in all of Italy itself. Originally built in the 5th century, the most distinctive part of the church is its circular floor plan, somewhat reminiscent of the Santo Stefano Rotondo church in Rome.
Church of San Fiorenzo
The San Fiorenzo Church is located in the center of the city. A famous painting by Raphael, known as the Madonna Ansidei, that used to decorate the church graces London’s National Gallery.
Church of Sant’Angelo della Pace
The 16th century Sant’Angelo della Pace church is located near the Arco dei Gigli, at the corner of Via delle Prome. Today this deconsecrated church is used as a warehouse for the city’s most famous library (Biblioteca Augusto).
Church of San Crispino
The 15th century San Crispino Church in he medieval district that was known as Fontenovo has also been deconsacrated.
Church of Sant’Antonio Abate
The Sant’Antonio Abate church is located on the outskirts of the city. The church existed as early as 1285, but its present appearance dates from 1625, when renovations decreed by the Olivetan Fathers were carried out.
Church of San Simone del Carmine
The Church of San Simone del Carmine Church in Via dell’Asilo is in danger of collapsing, and therefore closed. The highlight is an organ from the early 17th century. The church is also known under the name Chiesa dei Santi Simone e Giuda.
Convent of San Tommaso
The former convent of San Tommaso is now the seat of a science museum.