The archaeological excavations of underground Perugia, in the heart of the structure of the island of San Lorenzo, give the sense of a discovery through the centuries. These places allow you to enter the bowels of the hill that hosts the city of Perugia. It is thus possible to understand how from the Etruscans, passing through the Romans and the papal settlement, the city center took on its current shape. The descent from the cathedral cloister to the excavations is comparable to the use of a time machine, which realigns its hands with our watch as we go back through the centuries towards the surface.
The visit starts from the cloister of the rectory, via a side staircase. You find yourself in the Sala del Conclave where four Popes were elected: Honorius III, Honorius IV, Celestino V and Clement V. The large hall appears to you divided by consolidation walls built in the middle of the last century and made necessary to support the plan of trampling of the overlying Cathedral.
Exit the Hall and follow the indicated path that leads you to the remains of the majestic Etruscan walls, built to make the acropolis even more majestic. Here stood the temple perhaps dedicated to Juno-Era (in Etruscan Uni). You will discover how in this area of the city there has always been an uninterrupted continuity of use since the Etruscan age. As evidence of this you can admire the vault, of medieval origin, built as the foundations of the Cathedral.
Still following the path, you can walk on an ancient road, first Etruscan and then Roman, on whose pavement the grooves left by the wheels of the wagons are still visible. Continue your excursion following the ancient Roman road and you find yourself under Piazza Cavallotti.
