Spoleto is an ancient city in the province of Perugia, which is located in the central region of Italy, called Umbria. It is located at the foothills of the Apennines, so it has glorious scenery and backdrops in all directions. It is situated at the head of board valley and is surrounded by mountains.
There is a Roman theatre, which has been rebuilt to some extent; the stage area is home to the former church of St. Agatha and today houses the National Archaeological Museum. Ponte Sanguinario, or Bloody Bridge, is a Roman Bridge that dates back to the 1st century BC and its name comes from the persecution of Christians in the nearby amphitheatre.
The Amphitheatre dates back to around the 2nd century AD and it was turned into a fortress in 545 and during the Middle Ages it was used for shops and stores, while the church of San Gregorio was built. The Ponte delle Torri is a fantastic display of architecture; it is an aqueduct from the 13th century, which some believed the Romans built, however this point is sorely contested.
There is also the Rocca Albornoziana castle, which was built in the mid 1300’s. It has a total of six towers and two distinct inner spaces: the Cortile delle Armi, which was for the troops and the Cortile d'onore, which was used by the city's governor. The castle was used as a jail in 1800 and continued to be so until the late 20th century.
The cathedral of St. Maria Assunta was started in 1175, but did not complete until 1227; it was built in typical Romanesque style and it houses a manuscript letter that St Francis of Assisi wrote.
The San Domenico dates back to the 13th century and is of Gothic style, it was constructed in pink and white stone and in the interior has a mural painting by Giovanni Lanfranco.
Other churches include the basilica of San Salvatore (4th & 5th century), Santa Maria della Manna d'Oro (16th & 17th Century) and the Santa Eufemia, which dates back to the 12th century.
Festival dei Due Mondi, or the festival of the two worlds, began in 1958 and is held in late June to early July. It is a three-week event with music, theatre and dance performances. Over the years it has developed into an important cultural event and due to its location and proximity to Rome it is attended by people from all over the country, as well as the world.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Spoleto? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Spoleto and villas in Spoleto that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
