Spoleto is a hill town in the southernmost part of the province of Perugia. Like many cities in the area, it has a beautiful historic center, and below this a sprawling and less interesting modern part. The main sights are the Rocca Albornoz, the Cathedral and the Ponte delle Torri, a huge bridge over a valley between the castle and the hill across the valley.
What to see in Spoleto
The town centre is framed by ancient city walls, some of which date from the Umbrian times, some from the Roman period and some from the Middle Ages. The Ponte Sanguinario (“Bloody Bridge”) owes its name to the decapitated martyrs’ heads that used to be thrown from the bridge into the river.
The 11th century Cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo is decorated with frescoes by Pinturicchio and Filippo Lippi. Underneath the Sant’Ansano Church ruins of a 1st century temple have been found. Other beautiful churches are the early Christian Basilica di San Salvatore, the San Gregorio Maggiore Church, the San Domenico Church, the Sant’Eufemia Church, the Church of San Filippo Neri, the Church of San Sabino and the San Paolo Inter Vineas Church. The Church of San Pietro ex-Moenia is located outside the city walls. The small chapel of the Madonna del Pozzo is incorporated in a building in the Via Monterone.
Archaeological monuments include the ruins of a Roman Theatre and the Arch of Drusus. The Roman Theatre, together with the Palazzo Ancajani can be found on the Piazza della Libertà. The Arch of Drusus connects the square to the Piazza del Mercato. Ruins of an ancient Roman domus stem from the 1st century AD and probably used to belong to the mother of Emperor Vespasian.
The Rocca Albernoz towers above everything else and was built in the 14th century. A walk around the castle, along the Giro della Rocca, will reward you with a spectacular view of the Ponte delle Torri.
The most beautiful historic buildings are Palazzo Collicola, Palazzo Campello and Palazzo Ancaiani, all dating back to the 18th century.
The main attractions of the Piazza Pietro Fontana are the Palazzo Mauri and the Fontana dei Maccabei.
The Teodelapio sculpture by Alexander Calver outside the railway station is seen as one of the symbols of the city. Just like Arnoldo Pomodoro’s Colonna del Viaggiatore, at the end of the Viale Trento e Trieste, it was originally made for the open-air “Sculptures in the City” exhibition of 1962.
Main squares of Spoleto
Piazza del Duomo
The Piazza del Duomo is dominated by the impressive Cathedral of Spoleto. In order to reach the piazza you need to walk down a monumental set of stairs. As can be deduced from the coat of arms of the city, the square used to be used for popular councils. Nowadays the annual Festival of the Two Worlds is held on the Piazza del Duomo.
Piazza Pietro Fontana
Before the Piazza Pietro Fontana was constructed the area was taken up by private gardens. The present square is adorned with a central 16th century fountain. The Palazzo Mauri was built one century later and is not the seat of the public library. Inside the pharmacy facing the square some Roman ruins can be seen.
Piazza della Libertà
The main buildings on the Piazza della Libertà are the Palazzo Ancajani and the Palazzetto Ancajani. The Palazzetto is now the seat of Spoleto‘s tourist office. The Roman Theatre can be viewed through some arches of the Palazzo. Nowadays it is mainly used for cultural events.
Piazza del Mercato
The Piazza del Mercato is where the Cardo Maximo and the Decumano used to cross in Roman times. In those days it was the site of the Roman Forum of Spoleto, now it is the main market square of the city. Its fountain is considered one of the most beautiful ones of the city.
Museums of Spoleto
The Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto takes up two floors of the Rocca Albornoz.
The National Archaeological Museum includes a visit to the Roman Theatre.
The Modern and Contemporary Art Museum has its seat in the Palazzo Collicola.
Top 10 tourist attractions Spoleto
Spoleto Card
The Spoleto Card is a museum pass allowing you to visit the city’s six museums free of charge. The price is 9,50 Euro (age 26-65) or 8 Euro (discount for young people between 15 and 25 years old). The card is valid for one week and can only be used by one person, so identification is required.
A Brief History of Spoleto
Archaeological finds on the Sant’Elia hill and underneath the present cathedral tell us that the area was already inhabited in Umbrian times. In 241 BC the city became a Roman colony and in 90 BC the town became a municipality.
Later the city was conquered by the Byzantines. In the second half of the 6th century Spoleto was chosen by the Lombards as the capital of a vast county.
During the Middle Ages, the region was the scene of battles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. Frederick I Barbarossa had the city destroyed in 1155. In 1354 Spoleto was added to the papal properties by Cardinal Albernoz. Despite several attempts to gain independence, the city remained in the hands of the church until the French domination.
Useful information
Region: Umbria. Province: Perugia. Area code: 0743 Zip code: 06049. The Spoleto tourist office (IAT del Comprensorio Spoletino) is located in Piazza della Libertà, 7 – 06049 Spoleto. Tel. +39 0743218620-0743218621.
By car/public transport
Public transport: There is a direct, but not very regular, train connection from Rome Termini. The city is also on the railway line between Orte and Falconara Marittima. Spoleto station is located at the foot of the hill and it is a nice but picturesque climb to the historical centre of town.
By car: From Rome take the E45 to the north, followed by the SS3Bis to Acquasparta. From here you follow SR418. Alternatively you can follow the former consular road Via Flaminia (SS3) all the way, which leads directly to Spoleto and is more scenic but also slower.
A system of 8 escalators leads from the Rocca Albernoz, the highest point of the city, all the way to the lowest point of the historic center and to the so-called Ponzianina parking lot.
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