Welcome to an audio guided tour in Perugia, entirely dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Etruscans. We now stand at a strategically positioned panoramic vista, gazing upon the verdant Umbrian landscape. As we take in the lush scenery, we may let our minds wander back to ancient times, envisioning the origins of this place, marked by early inhabitants deeply connected to nature.

Our story brings us back to the enduring community of the Etruscans, a population of ancient Italy, that thrived between the 9th and the 1st century BCE, in an area called Etruria. Stretching from present-day Tuscany to western Umbria, encompassing parts of Campania and Lazio regions, with extensions reaching northwards into the Po Valley, the Etruria kingdom was a vast expanse. Specifically, during this era, Perugia occupied a strategic border position between the Etruscan and Umbrian peoples. The Umbrians, contemporaries of the Etruscans, and likely the founders of an ancient settlement of Perugia, positioned the city on the border. Here, archaeological findings trace back to the 11th and 10th centuries BCE, with villages emerging near the slopes of the Perugian hill, and gaining prominence from the 8th century onward.

Curiously, according to Cato The Elder, the renowned Roman historian, Perugia initially served as the nucleus and seat of the Umbrians, particularly the so-called Sarsinati population—a subgroup of the Umbrians. However, the Etruscans gradually assumed control of the hill, integrating with the original inhabitants, and re-establishing the settlement. This is evident today in the sophisticated and marvellous Etruscan urban fabric that we will explore later on.

Moreover, the toponym “Perugia”, possibly finds its origins in Etruscan, later adapted by the Romans as “Perusia“. However, a more ancient Indo-European connection is plausible. Specifically, the term “per-roudja“, translating to “reddish”, stems from the Indo-European word “reudh“, signifying red. This nomenclature may be associated with an ancient Umbrian tradition, wherein the defence palisade logs, surrounding the fortified settlement atop the hill, were coated with clay plaster. This coating would have presented a reddish hue from a distance, giving rise to the name.

Adding an extra touch of peculiarity, the earliest trace of the name “Perugia”, appears in an Etruscan stele, dating back to the 7th century BCE, discovered in Vetulonia, a location in Tuscany. This stele is dedicated to a certain warrior named “Irumina Phersnachs”, likely a native of Perugia based on the surname.

And so, after unravelling the mysteries surrounding the ancient town’s name and origins, we are now ready to explore further. Our journey begins with the next stop, just a quick 3-minute walk down the nearby stairway. Please now follow the marked path on the map, until reaching the imposing Etruscan Arch.

Ptolemy