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I dodged the crowds in Rome and visited a charming, underrated city just over two hours away

September 14, 20240
Solomeo was restored by fashion designer and Umbria native, Brunello Cucinelli.

Carly Caramanna

Before heading to the city center, I stopped in Solomeo, which is located within the Province of Perugia.

Solomeo is a preserved rural Italian village with a picturesque atmosphere straight out of a fairytale. This makes sense since fashion designer and Umbria native Brunello Cucinelli restored the town, and has invested significantly in keeping his region’s culture and architecture intact.

Stopping here was a highlight of the trip — it truly felt like stepping back in time.

In Perugia, I stayed at the only 5-star hotel in the city center.
The pool has a transparent floor overlooking the ruins of a 3,000-year-old ancient Etruscan settlement.

Carly Caramanna

I was most excited to stay at Sina Brufani because of the pool in the wellness spa, which has a transparent floor overlooking the ruins of a 3,000-year-old ancient Etruscan settlement.

This truly felt like a bucket-list experience, and I spent hours swimming while gawking at the historic details.

The city center was easy to explore on foot.
The food in Perugia was incredible.

Carly Caramanna

The food in Perugia was incredible. I especially enjoyed dinner at Collins’ Restaurant, which served traditional Umbrian cuisine.

The seasonal menu, which featured goods from local producers, offered many of the region’s token specialties, like truffles, Umbrian olive oil, and wild mushrooms.

I also enjoyed sampling grab-and-go meals.
Perugia was a welcome respite from nearby Rome.

Carly Caramanna

Full of history and picturesque villages, I can’t wait to head back to the underrated Perugia.

Since the city is less tourism-focused, there was a certain calmness that made it a welcome respite from nearby Rome. The local cuisine was fantastic and tapped into many of the area’s local bounties.

I also loved having the opportunity to intimately experience history in places like the hotel spa — undoubtedly one of the coolest experiences I’ve had while traveling.