Umbria: Spoleto

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Spoleto is an artists’ town with Roman origins (a very lovely place). There’s a grand arts festival (Festival dei Due Mondi/Festival of 2 Worlds) held here in June and July. There’s much to see in this town, churches, ruins and museums. It’s a delightful place. At the top of town (on the hill) is La Rocca dei Papi, at one time a papal fortress and now a prison. The Piazza del Duomo has the Romanesque and Renaissance church/duomo and campanile (bell tower). The church was built in the 12^th century. The façade is gorgeous with mosaics and a pretty rose window. Inside are frescoes by Pinturicchio (in the chapel on the right) and more by Lippi in the chancel. The battistero/baptistry is right next door. Just beyond the Piazza del Duomo is the Chiesa di Sant’Eufemia (12^th century) in the Palazzo Arcivescovile (Archbishop’s Palace). Interestingly, women were not allowed to sit with the men in this church (very rare). They had a gallery of their own above the main area of the church. There are some good frescoes here too. There’s the Museo Diocesano in the next building and there are some fine paintings inside. Make sure you see the Ponte delle Torri a 14^th century bridge. The ponte’s base is an old Roman aqueduct. The views are unbelievable from here. To see the Roman ruins in Spoleto start at the Piazza della Liberta. Here you’ll find the Roman theatre which is still used to this day. Right next door is the Museo Archeologico. Further on you’ll find more ruins like the Arco di Druso e Germanico (AD 23) and the Casa Romana. There are more churches in this town (many more) and the Basilica di San Salvatore (4^th century) is worth a look as are the Chiesa di San Pietro (13^th century) with its animal relief sculptures and the Chiesa di San Gregorio Maggiore (12^th century) with its baptistery covered in frescoes (in the portico at the entrance). The pink and white Chiesa di San Domenico has some lovely frescoes on the inside too. Market day in Spoleto is Friday.