Spoleto was the capital of the Longobard Dukes and conserves traces of the numerous historical eras in which it played a key role.
The city is dominated by the Rocca Albornoziana (14th century), built by Cardinal Egidio Albornoz, which rises from the tip of Colle Sant’Elia, and outlined by tall perimeter walls and six towers which protect two courtyards: the Cortile d’Onore, which houses the Museo Nazionale del Ducato and an area used for exhibitions, concerts and conferences, and the Cortile delle Armi, used as an open-air theatre. The Rocca is linked to Monteluco by the Ponte delle Torri which is 230m long, 82m high, and was built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The Roman Theatre (1st century C.E.), still used for performances today, stands inside the city walls.
The medieval Via dell'Arringo leads to the Piazza del Duomo, dominated by the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. The upper register of its Romanesque facade is embellished with a large mosaic by Solsterno (1207), while the lower part, entirely rebuilt in the 17th century, has an elegant Renaissance portal with five arches that lead inside. Its many pictorial treasures include frescoes by Filippo Lippi and Pinturicchio.
The buildings gathered around the square and along the road are also remarkable, especially the elegant Teatro Caio Melisso (1664) and the Renaissance Palazzo Racani Arroni with rare decorations scratched into the facade. A sculpture by Lynn Chadwick (Strange III, 1959) fits perfectly here, part of the distinguished heritage of contemporary art gathered at Palazzo Collicola, headquarters for the Arti Visive – Museo Carandente project.
Fondazione Umbria Film Commission
Via M. Angeloni 61 — 06124 Perugia
Phone: 075-5045878
Email: info@umbriafilmcommission.com
