The National Gallery of Umbria: eight centuries of italian art

Located in the heart of Perugia, within the historic Palazzo dei Priori, the National Gallery of Umbria stands as one of Italy’s most important museums, offering a fascinating journey through eight centuries of Italian art, with particular emphasis on Umbrian artistic production. The works are displayed across 40 exhibition halls, spread over about 3,500 square meters on the first two floors of the Palazzo dei Priori. Each room is carefully curated to guide visitors through a chronological and thematic journey, allowing them to appreciate the artistic evolution from the 13th to the 20th century.

In addition to the permanent collection spaces, the Gallery features the Podiani Hall, a large area dedicated to temporary exhibitions, events, and concerts, as well as a “treasure room” for short-term displays of especially precious works. The museum’s permanent collection boasts an extraordinary heritage of thousands of pieces, including paintings, sculptures, goldsmith works, textiles, ceramics, and a significant collection of drawings and prints — a true testament to the artistic richness of Umbria and beyond.

The Great Masters of Italian and Umbrian Art

Among the artists who have made the National Gallery of Umbria a key reference point for Italian art are the Masters of the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Master of Saint Francis, Duccio di Buoninsegna, Meo di Guido da Siena, and the sculptors Arnolfo di Cambio and Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, whose works illustrate the flourishing of medieval art in Umbria and Tuscany.

The Renaissance is magnificently represented through masterpieces by artists such as Beato Angelico, Benozzo Gozzoli, and Piero della Francesca, with his celebrated Polyptych of Saint Anthony. Other highlights include the Umbrian and Marche painters of the 15th century, such as Benedetto Bonfigli and Bartolomeo Caporali.

The Gallery also houses some of the most significant works by Pietro Vannucci, known as Perugino, one of the foremost exponents of the Umbrian Renaissance. The rooms dedicated to him allow visitors to appreciate his serene compositions and understand his profound influence on the art of his time. Alongside Perugino are works by artists from his circle, such as Pintoricchio and Francesco di Giorgio Martini.

The museum tour continues through the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, featuring paintings and sculptures by artists like Orazio Gentileschi, Valentin de Boulogne, Pietro da Cortona, Corrado Giaquinto, Sebastiano Conca, and Pierre Subleyras, all testifying to the stylistic and cultural transformations that shaped the Umbrian artistic scene.

The journey extends into the 20th century, showcasing works by modern and contemporary masters such as Gerardo Dottori, Piero Dorazio, and Alberto Burri, ensuring a sense of continuity between past and present in the region’s artistic expression.

Beyond its permanent collection, the National Gallery of Umbria is constantly renewed through loans from other institutions and a dynamic program of temporary exhibitions, allowing visitors to admire masterpieces from around the world and explore specific themes or artists in greater depth.

Address: The Gallery’s rooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of Palazzo dei Priori, accessible from Corso Vannucci 19, Perugia.

Opening Hours:

• April – December:

 – Monday: 12:00–19:30

 – Tuesday to Sunday: 8:30–19:30 (last entry 18:30)

• January – February:

 – Monday: Closed

 – Tuesday to Sunday: 8:30–19:30 (last entry 18:30)

Tickets:

• Full: €10.00 (or €12.00 during major exhibitions)

• Reduced: €2.00 (EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein citizens aged 18–25)

• Reduced: €5.00 (Touring Club Italiano members)

• Free: Under 18s, persons with disabilities and companions, licensed tour guides, MIC staff, ICOM members, student groups, and teachers of Italian public schools

• Annual card: €25.00 (valid for 365 days from first entry)

• Online reservation fee: €2.00

Official Website: https://gallerianazionaledellumbria.it/

Photo credits: Christopher John SSF – Friar’s Balsam