Santa Giuliana Church, Perugia

The Santa Giuliana Church and its adjoining convent, located near the Eburnea Gate at the end of Piazza Partigiani's gardens in Perugia, is a masterpiece of Cistercian architecture and an integral piece of the city's rich religious history. Founded in 1253 by Cardinal Giovanni da Toledo, a proponent of the Cistercian reform, the complex became one of the wealthiest and most significant religious institutions in Perugia, earning the protection of Pope Innocent IV, who granted indulgences to its visitors.

The church's façade, dating back to the 14th century, showcases striking geometric patterns of pink and white marble and is adorned with a Gothic rose window and an elegant portal. Inside, the single nave with wooden trusses preserves remnants of original frescoes. Notable works include a 13th-century fresco of the Last Supper, now displayed on the left wall, and the Coronation of the Virgin by Marzolini, positioned in the apse. The triumphal arch features fresco fragments from the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

Once a monastery and now housing the Italian Army's Foreign Language School, the complex features a cloister by Matteo Gattaponi (1376), celebrated for its Cistercian design with striped arches and ornate capitals. After a 16th-century decline under the bishop’s control, it was repurposed as a granary during Napoleonic times.

Though no longer part of traditional tourist itineraries, Santa Giuliana remains a cherished site among locals. Its Gothic bell tower, visible from the Carducci Gardens, rises above the surrounding trees, providing a glimpse of the complex's historical grandeur. Visitors by appointment can admire its storied cloister and reflect on its layers of history, from its Cistercian origins to its transformation into state property after Italy's unification in 1861.