What to see in Spoleto: art, history and the Festival of Two Worlds

Spoleto is one of the most fascinating art cities in Umbria and in all of Italy. Layered across two thousand years of history — Roman, medieval, Renaissance — it offers major monuments, extraordinary natural scenery and one of the world's most famous music festivals. It lies about 30 km from Agriturismo Il Barco, easily reachable by car or train.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

Spoleto's Cathedral is one of the finest in Umbria. The twelfth-century Romanesque façade, with its rose window and gilded mosaics, is already a masterpiece. Inside are the final frescoes of Filippo Lippi, painted between 1467 and 1469 shortly before his death. The painter is buried in the right transept, at the behest of Lorenzo the Magnificent, who wished his memory to be honoured in Spoleto.

The Rocca Albornoziana and the Ponte delle Torri

The Rocca Albornoziana, built in the fourteenth century at the behest of Cardinal Albornoz, dominates the city from above and today houses the National Museum of the Duchy. The view from the bastion is breathtaking. Nearby, the Ponte delle Torri is the most striking structure: a medieval aqueduct 230 metres long and 80 metres high, connecting the Rocca to Monte Monteluco. It is one of the most impressive medieval bridges in Europe.

The Festival of Two Worlds

Every year, in late June and early July, Spoleto hosts the Festival of Two Worlds — one of Italy's most important cultural events. Founded in 1958 by composer Gian Carlo Menotti, the festival brings concerts, operas, dance and theatre to the city's most evocative venues: the Roman Theatre, Piazza Duomo, the cloisters. If you're visiting Umbria in summer, it's worth timing your stay with the festival.

The historic centre: squares and Roman theatres

The first-century Roman Theatre is perfectly preserved and still used for performances today. The Arch of Drusus and the Arch of Augustus mark the limits of the ancient Roman forum. Piazza del Mercato stands exactly on the forum area. Don't miss the Municipal Picture Gallery and the church of San Gregorio Maggiore, with its twelfth-century crypt.

How to reach Spoleto from Il Barco

Spoleto is about 30 km from Agriturismo Il Barco, reachable in 35 minutes by car. By train, Spoleto station is on the Rome–Ancona line: from Foligno (10 minutes) there are frequent services. We recommend parking outside the walls and reaching the centre on foot or by free funicular.