It was a very important Etruscan city, as testified by its monuments as the Etruscan arch, the Porta Marzia and the Etruscan well.
In the IInd century the emperor Ottaviano conquered it and gave it the name of “Augusta Perusia”.
After the fall of the Roman Empire the city was frequently invaded till it became a free city-state and assumed the urban aspect, which even today characterizes it, with its marvellous buildings, sculptures and paintings of great value.