Perugia's Monteluce District Transforms into Contemporary Art Hub

The Monteluce district in Perugia, located just outside the medieval walls, has evolved into the MAD – Monteluce Art District, a contemporary art initiative. The area, centered around the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the former Clarisse monastery (later a hospital, now disused and slated for redevelopment), experienced chaotic urbanization in the 1950s and 1960s. After the hospital relocated in 2007, the neighborhood saw improved mobility and an influx of cultural operators. The MAD project repurposes vacant buildings and shops as exhibition spaces for shows, performances, concerts, and events. The initiative was inspired by Trebisonda, a contemporary art center founded in 1989 by artists from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Perugia, which fostered international exchanges and experimental exhibitions. The current promoters include SCD Textile&Art Studio, Magazzini Fiorucci, Studio Susanna Cati, and Studio Sara Cancellieri, along with associations Metanoia APS and Lucia Maria Minervini. The district's program and map of studios, galleries, and spaces are shared via a Facebook group.