I dodged the crowds in Rome and visited a charming, underrated city just over two hours away

• After traveling to many of Italy’s most-visited cities, I stayed in a less-popular one: Perugia.
• Perugia is only about a two-hour drive from Rome, but it didn’t feel as overrun with tourists.
• The historic town was full of culture, and I enjoyed the standout local cuisine.

After visiting some of Italy’s hot spots, like Rome, Venice, and Florence, I wanted to check out a lesser-visited city that a friend had recommended: Perugia.

The city, which is only about a two-hour drive from Rome, is the capital of Central Italy’s Umbria region.

Although it’s often overlooked in favor of more popular tourist destinations, I learned that Perugia has just as much to offer.