Perugia is located in the “green heart of Italy”, at about 500 metres above the sea level, and it is the capital of the Umbria Region. The town is a centre of several industrial, business and handicraft activities.
   It is also the seat of cultural and teaching institutes such as the Italian University for Foreigners and the Italian University, which dates back to 1266.
  Throughout the centuries Perugia has shown a great devotion to art and artists, expressed in great works of architecture, sculpture and paintings.
  Perugia is surrounded by other villages that can be defined as minor only in size, such as Assisi, Todi, Città di Castello, Città della Pieve, Gubbio and Spello – all centres are of great artistic interest.
  They are among the most beautiful places in Italy.
  In 1950 Dr. Maria Montessori founded “Il Centro Internazionale di Studi Pedagogici” at the Italian University for Foreigners in Perugia.
  . The Centre was the site of the International Training Course for teachers of the “Children’s House” directed by Maria Montessori herself with the collaboration of her son Mario M. Montessori Sr.