Perugia Festivals

• Umbria Jazz Festival, (☎075 50 18 228; www.umbriajazz.com), The time of the Umbria Jazz Festival is the time to head to Perugia. If you're a jazz fan, then you probably already know about this festival and can judge your interest for yourself. If you're one of those people who's more likely to hear about the festival and say, “jazz is cool, I guess,” don't think twice: come. The whole thing is 10 days of constant free music. The stage at the snack bar in Giardini Carducci has free acts every day of the festival. The stage in P. IV Novembre has two or three free sets each night. T Elfo's Pub and several other pubs host jam sessions in the late evening, with no cover. Ristorante La Taverna and several other restaurants host jazz buffets, jazz dinners, and jazz aperitivi if you're willing to pay the cost of food for your music. And if you really want to cough up some cash for the big-name acts, general admission seats at the Arena Santa Giuliana are as cheap as €13. You can even listen from ri Free-€56, depending on the event, venue, and seat. Mostly free.
• Eurochocolate, (☎075 50 25 880; www.eurochocolate.com), For nine days in mid-October, Perugia opens its doors to Lindt, Cadbury, and other great chocolatiers of the world. The city is transformed into a sweet-tooth's paradise as all the major piazze are filled with chocolate stands, chocolate statues, chocolate spas, and chocolate art. Free samples are abundant—hover near one of the artists sculpting huge blocks of chocolate and grab the shavings. Best of all, the experience is completely free—unless you want to bring home your very own giant chocolate Pieta. P. Italia, P. IV Novembre, and the other Free. Mid-Oct.