<p class="ingestion featured-caption">I loved my time in Perugia, Italy.Orietta Gaspari/Getty Images</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>After traveling to many of Italy's most-visited cities, I stayed in a less-popular one: Perugia.</li><li>Perugia is only about a two-hour drive from Rome, but it didn't feel as <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/barcelona-overtourism-making-it-impossible-to-live-there-local-says-2024-8">overrun with tourists</a>.</li></ul><p>After visiting some of <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/italy-places-to-visit-or-skip-from-frequent-traveler-2024-6">Italy's hot spots</a>, like Rome, Venice, and Florence, I wanted to check out a lesser-visited city that a friend had recommended: Perugia.</p><p>The city, which is only about a two-hour drive from <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-to-know-visiting-rome-busy-season-first-time-tips">Rome</a>, is the capital of Central Italy's Umbria region.</p><p>Although it's often overlooked in favor of more <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-hidden-gems-spain-to-visit-from-local-2024-8">popular tourist destinations</a>, I learned that Perugia has just as much to offer.</p><p>Here's what my trip was like and why I think this underrated location should be on everyone's travel bucket list.</p>