Spoleto, Italy, is a truly charming Umbrian hill town only 60 mi/95 km northeast of Rome and best known for the Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds) or simply known as the Spoleto festival.
This annual festival of international music, theater and art is held during the last two weeks of June and the first two weeks of July. Composer Giancarlo Menotti organized the first one in 1958, and it now includes performances of opera, dance, theater, concert and film. Tickets are best purchased six months to a year in advance. http://www.festivaldispoleto.it.
Spoleto is divided into upper and lower towns: Spoleto upper is a beautiful Renaissance town in itself, with arched, narrow, winding streets and Roman architecture that includes a theater, an arch, about a mile/kilometer of Roman walls and a remarkable first-century house that belonged to Emperor Vespasian's mother. Roman stonework forms parts of many buildings.
Just on the other side of La Rocca, an old prison and hilltop fortress, is a spectacular gorge—cross the 750-ft-/233-m-long, 14th-century brick footbridge (built over an older Roman aqueduct) for sweeping, panoramic views.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.