Spoleto, Italy

Spoleto is a town of art and culture, where guests walking through the narrow streets and winding corners can experience the magicical atmosphere of the many artistic events and festivals which animate the town itself.

Spoleto, with its medieval old town centre extremely rich in monuments and works of art, is one of the most visited Umbrian places.  The town is of ancient origin. There are indeed many signs (like tombs dated back at the iron age) of human settlements from the VII century B.C.

The city has many narrow streets and lovely squares of rare beauty. You will easily find buildings like the Palazzo Comunale, the Palazzo Rosari-Spada, or the Palazzo della Signoria. Everything is concentrated in a very small space, so that with a bit of imagination, Spoleto could be represented as a “big pine cone”.

The longest list and the most detailed descriptions could not render the wonder of being there and enjoying and experiencing first hand the beauty of Spoleto, its lovely people and fantastic cuisine!

There are numerous Monuments, among them being the Roman Theater, the Cathedral, the "Ponte delle Torri" (a medieval acqueduct) and the Fortress. In Spoleto you can find shops that sell typical foodstuffs coming from the farm lands such as the extra-virgin olive oil, and from Valnerina you'll find things such as truffles, cheese and salami.
 

Ponte delle Torri, a high stone bridge erected in the 14th century on the foundations of a Roman aqueduct. This monumental work has a walkway that lets you cross to the far side. A flat path continues from there, offering fantastic views back onto the bridge itself as well as the former papal fortress (the Rocca Albornoziana) and the surrounding countryside.
 
Above left: The Spoleto Cathedral is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The front is decorated with eight finely traceried rose windows, loggias and three blind arches. Into the central niche is a Byzantine mosaic depicting Jesus among the Virgin Mary and Saint John. A great Renaissance portico precedes the entrance. The church is dedicated to the Assumption.

Above right top: Porta Fuga is named after the fact it was part of the city walls and was the main gate to resist from outer sieges. It actually means "Runaways Gate". Today it is located in the very centre close to the Olive Oil Tower, where oil was stored during winter time, in the Middle Ages.

Above right lower: The Fortess was erected for Cardinal Egidio Albornoz in 1359. It has two curtain walls around the keep and six massive watch-towers. The main hall is dedicated to the memory of Lucrezia Borgia, who dwelt here.

 
The magnificent Teatro Nuovo “Giancarlo Menotti” Theatre was built over the ruins of a monastery, on a classical seat plan typical of the layout of theatres in Italy. It has 800 seats and a stage large 25 meters. Within the Theatre, there is another beautiful Hall named XVII Settembre which has 99 seats available.
 

Above and below: The magnificent interior of the “Giancarlo Menotti” Theatre
 
 
Spoleto is in the centre of Italy near:
  • Perugia (Umbria): distance 62 Km – 56 minutes
  • Assisi (Umbria): distance 46 Km – 40 minutes
  • Orvieto (Umbria): distance 104 Km – 1h 30 minutes
  • Florence (Tuscany): distance 211 Km – 2h 30 minutes
  • Rome (Lazio): distance 150 Km – 2h 00 minutes

You can easily travel to Spoleto by Plane:

  • Roma Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) “Leonardo Da Vinci”: distance 170 Km
  • Roma Ciampino International Airport: distance 145 Km
  • Ancona International Airport: distance 130 Km
  • International Airport of Umbria “San Francesco d’Assisi”: 50 Km

By Train:

  • Roma Fiumicino (FCO) - Spoleto: 2h 15 minutes (direct)

In the Centre of the Town You can find different types of restaurants ranging from deluxe, traditional or enconomical, where you can enjoy dining on wonderful and traditional Italian food. The visitors can expect to pay prices starting from approximately € 15. For a fast meal you can choose things such as a Pizzeria, Fast Food or Cafè staring from 6 € for pizza or sandwich or hamburger and a drink. After dinner you can enjoy listening to music and having a drink one of the many bars, cafès and pubs in the town.

We look forward to welcoming you to Spoleto, to discover for yourself the charm and beauty of our ancient town.
 

Additional Daily Sightseeing Tours Available to Guests
 
TOURISM: MUSIC MEETS UMBRIAN TRADITIONS
65th COUPE MONDIALE of Accordion Competitions, Concerts and Sightseeing Tours in the area

21st - 25th of August, 2012

On the occasion of the 65th edition of the Coupe Mondiale of classical and varieté accordion (CIA), that will take place in Spoleto from 21st to 25th of August, every music and travel lover can discover Umbria through a special tour that will show them in the most evocative locations of our region, starting with Spoleto. We have a single goal: to give each person feeling of belonging to the territory, to know the places and traditions from within, and to love the smells, sounds and colors of this land.

The tour will be organised so that the guests have the opportunity to attend the concerts and evening events, including the final concert of August 25th which, after the presentations to winners of the Coupe Mondiale, will host the "Kievskaya
Kamerata" Orchestra of Kiev. Our tours are customizable and modular. You can participate in the entire weekend’s
events or choose to spend only one or two days with us.
 
Suggested Sightseeing Tours - Please select for further information and pricing
 
Tourist info and booking:
AGENZIA MARFIL VIAGGI di Cocchini Donatella
Via Centrale Umbra, 19
06038 – Spello (PG)
Tel. 0742/301734 - Fax. 0742/301735
E-mail: marfilviaggi@mclink.it website: www.marfilviaggi.it
Information on Competition and Concerts:
Federica Celesti - Phone +39 328/4658880
 
Cultural Association “Italian Accordion Culture”
www.strumentiemusica.com


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