Not far from the Fontana Maggiore and Corso Vannucci is the district of Monteluce which has always been a major junction of the city. Indeed, until a few years ago, it was the sight of the main hospital of the Umbrian capital and the roads into Monteluce constantly suffered traffic congestion. Now that the hospital has been moved outside the city centre (near the district of San Sisto), the road from Porta Pesa to Sant’Erminio seems like a walk through elegant, if somewhat neglected, streets. There are still some beautiful buildings and it is true that some historic bars have survived. And, of course, the piazza in front of the church of Santa Maria Assunta (in medieval times a monastery of the Poor Clare nuns) is as splendid as ever, but really the throbbing life of bygone days has given way to buildings that for now are still uninhabited and somewhat spectral.
August though is the occasion to give these places back to everyone, both Perugini and tourists. Indeed, during the week of the feast of the Assumption (an annual religious feast celebrated on the 15th and coinciding with the secular celebration of ferragosto) a lovely market with travelling stalls is usually held and at night there are groups who brighten up the evening with music ranging from choral music to something fresher and younger. Needless to say, there are also liturgical celebrations inside the church that has recently re-opened for prayer and services.
Then further down on Via Eugubina is the Monastero delle Clarisse, the monastery of cloistered nuns who in 1925 were moved to this building to make way for the construction of the civic hospital in Monteluce. Their melodic chant can still be heard today from behind the grill that marks their separation from the outside world.