The best walks and hikes around Spoleto

The Roman Theater of Spoleto is one of the most important Roman monuments in the city and represents a significant testimony to the cultural life of ancient Spoletium. It was built in the 1st century BC, in an area near the forum, according to the architectural models of classical Roman theater. The cavea, built against the natural slope of Sant'Elia Hill, was divided into sectors and could accommodate several thousand spectators. Opposite were the orchestra and the monumental stage, originally decorated with columns, niches, and statues, which served as a backdrop for theatrical and musical performances. The building was constructed of masonry and clad in local stone, with technical solutions that ensured good acoustics. After the end of the Roman era, the theater was gradually abandoned and was partially incorporated into medieval buildings. The area was restored in the 20th century, restoring the structure's visibility and highlighting its archaeological importance. Today, the Roman Theatre is part of the National Archaeological Museum of Spoleto and continues to serve a cultural purpose, hosting events and performances that renew the city's connection to its thousand-year-old theatrical tradition.

The Arch of Drusus is one of Spoleto's most important Roman monuments. It was built in the 1st century AD, likely in honor of Drusus Minor, son of Emperor Tiberius, and marked the monumental entrance to the city's Roman forum. Made of blocks of local limestone, it features a single arch framed by pilasters and a dedicatory inscription that is still visible. In the Middle Ages, the arch was incorporated into the structures of the Church of Sant'Ansano, a testament to urban continuity and the adaptation of ancient monuments to the urban fabric.

It's reopened!

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Spoleto Cathedral Cathedral: the symbol of the city of Spoleto With its magnificent façade, Spoleto Cathedral provides a kind of backdrop to the Piazza Duomo, which is home to many other buildings. The cathedral was built in the 12th century on the remains of an earlier religious building named after Santa Maria del Vescovado, which in turn stood on an older church dedicated to the martyr Primiano. The crypt of Santa Primiano, accessed through the rectory, dates back to the 9th century and represents the only original part of the old cathedral, which was rebuilt at the end of the 12th century. Adjacent to the facade of the cathedral, on the left side, is the imposing square-shaped bell tower. The façade also features an elegant portico with five rounded arches supported by Corinthian columns, a marvelous work by the master Ambrogio Barocci dating from 1492. The upper part is divided into two levels separated by a cornice supported by blind arches: the lower part is decorated with five beautiful rose windows, the central one being larger and surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists; the upper part features three rose windows and three pointed-arch niches, of which the central, larger one is decorated with a wonderful mosaic depicting Christ enthroned between the Madonna and Saint John the Evangelist. The decorative elements are further emphasized by the use of blocks of local white and pink stone, which highlight the architectural details. Inside, the space is divided into three naves with a central apse, and the plan is a Latin cross with a transept. The building houses numerous works of art by artists from various eras: the bronze bust of Urban VIII was made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1640; the cross with the iconography of the Living Christ (Triumphal) is a work by Alberto Sotio from 1187; and the cycle of the Stories of the Virgin, which adorns the central apse, was painted by Filippo Lippi between 1467 and 1469. Finally, two chapels are particularly admirable: the Chapel of the Santissima Icona, which houses a 12th-century Byzantine panel that, according to tradition, was given to the city of Spoleto by Frederick Barbarossa as a sign of peace; and the Chapel of the Reliquies, which houses one of the only two surviving letters written by Saint Francis himself. It is a small rectangular parchment (13 x 6 cm) made of goatskin, consisting of nineteen lines, addressed to Fra Leone. The other handwritten letter is the so-called Chartula, kept in the Basilica of Assisi and, according to tradition, written by Francis in 1224 after his stigmatization on Mount Verna. The interior of the building, as it appears today, is the result of a decisive intervention in the 17th century that gave it a Baroque style. Text / Source: Exploring Umbria srl, https://www.exploring-umbria.com/de/entdecke-spoleto/gehenswuerdigkeiten-in-spoleto/kathedrale-santa-maria-assunta-dom-von-spoleto/#:~:text=Die%20Kathe Drale%20 was%20 built%20 in the%20tw%C3%B6th%20th century%20 on%20, a%20%C3%A4older%2C%20%20%20%20M%C3%A4rtyr%20Primiano%20%20%20house%20dedicated to the%20M%C3%A4rtyr%20Primiano%20.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Spoleto Cathedral Cathedral: the symbol of the city of Spoleto With its magnificent façade, Spoleto Cathedral provides a kind of backdrop to the Piazza Duomo, which is home to many other buildings. The cathedral was built in the 12th century on the remains of an earlier religious building named after Santa Maria del Vescovado, which in turn stood on an older church dedicated to the martyr Primiano. The crypt of Santa Primiano, accessed through the rectory, dates back to the 9th century and represents the only original part of the old cathedral, which was rebuilt at the end of the 12th century. Adjacent to the facade of the cathedral, on the left side, is the imposing square-shaped bell tower. The façade also features an elegant portico with five rounded arches supported by Corinthian columns, a marvelous work by the master Ambrogio Barocci dating from 1492. The upper part is divided into two levels separated by a cornice supported by blind arches: the lower part is decorated with five beautiful rose windows, the central one being larger and surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists; the upper part features three rose windows and three pointed-arch niches, of which the central, larger one is decorated with a wonderful mosaic depicting Christ enthroned between the Madonna and Saint John the Evangelist. The decorative elements are further emphasized by the use of blocks of local white and pink stone, which highlight the architectural details. Inside, the space is divided into three naves with a central apse, and the plan is a Latin cross with a transept. The building houses numerous works of art by artists from various eras: the bronze bust of Urban VIII was made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1640; the cross with the iconography of the Living Christ (Triumphal) is a work by Alberto Sotio from 1187; and the cycle of the Stories of the Virgin, which adorns the central apse, was painted by Filippo Lippi between 1467 and 1469. Finally, two chapels are particularly admirable: the Chapel of the Santissima Icona, which houses a 12th-century Byzantine panel that, according to tradition, was given to the city of Spoleto by Frederick Barbarossa as a sign of peace; and the Chapel of the Reliquies, which houses one of the only two surviving letters written by Saint Francis himself. It is a small rectangular parchment (13 x 6 cm) made of goatskin, consisting of nineteen lines, addressed to Fra Leone. The other handwritten letter is the so-called Chartula, kept in the Basilica of Assisi and, according to tradition, written by Francis in 1224 after his stigmatization on Mount Verna. The interior of the building, as it appears today, is the result of a decisive intervention in the 17th century that gave it a Baroque style. Text / Source: Exploring Umbria srl, https://www.exploring-umbria.com/de/entdecke-spoleto/gehenswuerdigkeiten-in-spoleto/kathedrale-santa-maria-assunta-dom-von-spoleto/#:~:text=Die%20Kathe Drale%20 was%20 built%20 in the%20tw%C3%B6th%20th century%20 on%20, a%20%C3%A4older%2C%20%20%20%20M%C3%A4rtyr%20Primiano%20%20%20house%20dedicated to the%20M%C3%A4rtyr%20Primiano%20.

The allure of decadence

Long steps down to the cathedral of Spoleto. The old town of Spoleto is definitely worth seeing. Beautiful, winding old town streets, small, cozy squares and many restaurants. Spoleto does attract visitors, but the town has not yet been overrun by large-scale international tourism. Accordingly, there are still numerous shops selling everyday items in the old town and not just souvenir shops. There are bakeries, butchers, cheese shops - where you can still buy food from regional production.

From here it is possible to bypass the tunnel of the same name by taking the SR 595