At the heart of Italy lies the capital of Umbria: Perugia. With its old, sand-washed buildings perching atop two hills, this vibrant medieval hill town brims with an almost storybook-like charm. Glancing at the sloping steps, sweeping arches, open squares and the snaking cobbled streets, it's almost as if this setting had been created by the very pen of Shakespeare himself. Perugia rolls in romance. At its heart is the Piazza IV Novembre, an open square with the grand Maggiore fountain pinpointing its centre. From its carefully carved panels illustrating fables and mythical beasts to its pink and white stone finish, it makes for an intriguing starting point to this relatively tourist-free town.