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| Located on
the hillocks of the Subasio Mountain and surrounded by
Roman and medieval walls, Spello – from far –
presents itself as a jewel box that preserves a considerable
artistic and cultural heritage. The built-up area, from
the Subasio limestone, evolves along narrow and tortuous
streets, examples of medieval settling. Luminous gardens
in the back of the residences and unexpected panoramas
from the different levels on which the town is situated,
complete the urban landscape. Remains of the amphitheater,
the walls and the gates from the period of Augusto, among
which the monumental Porta
Consolare, still today southern entrance
of the town are evidence of the Roman period. Taking the
Consolare street, the Matteotti square is reached, where
the church of S. Maria Maggiore
(12th -13th century) can be found with the Chapel
of Baglioni, decorated by splendid frescos
of Pinturicchio
and paved with the maiolica of Deruta. Other frescos by
Pinturicchio are in the opposite chapels of the crossvault;
frescos by Perugino are in the presbytery and, above the
greater altar, an elegant ciborium from the year 1515.
Not distant, there is the church of S. Andrea from the
13th century that preserves a large table of Pinturicchio.
In Repubblica Square rises the ancient Palazzo Comunale
that has an ogival portico from the 13th century. Just
a little ahead, the church of S. Lorenzo can be found,
with the remains of the 12th century construction and
valuable paintings, sculptures and wood carved artifacts. |
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From Spello
to Spoleto
The first stop of this itinerary is the Abbey
of Sassovivo. Founded in the 11th century
on a pre-existing fortified residence, the abbey rises
in a lonely verdant landscape. Of considerable beauty
is the Romanesque cloister composed of 128 columns in
pairs that sustain round arches and a solemn classical
pediment. Taking again the Flaminia way and continuing
south, Trevi is reached. Fine expanses of olive trees
are the scenery that accompanies the ascent to Trevi,
located on the top of a conic hill that dominates the
plain. The medieval walls embrace the built-up area, with
a peculiar spiraling shape, coiling to the slope. The
village preserves – almost untouched – the
medieval urban set up of circular shape surrounded by
walls. Before reaching Spoleto, the Springs
of Clitunno deserve a stop. True naturalistic
jewel of Umbria – very picturesque – is the
ideal place to understand the plot between religion and
nature. Dedicated to the God Clitunno, personification
of the river that here uttered his oracles, later celebrated
by Properzio, Plinio, Virgil and, in more recent times,
from Byron and Carducci. Springs of water of intense colors
and luxuriant vegetation create an environment of incomparable
beauty. Spoleto.
The glamour of this town comes not only from its monuments,
but above all from the relation with the nature that surrounds
it. The Monteluco does not act only as stage decor, but
it is protagonist of the story of the town, with its forest
of holm-oaks protected since antiquity. From its Roman
origin, Spoleto preserves the remains of the amphitheater,
the arc of Druso and the cavea of the theater, still today
spectacular stage for concerts and shows. In the medieval
age, an urban revival was undertaken, with the construction
of churches and the birth of the suburbs, distinctive
characters of the present urban scene. |
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| From Spello
to Perugia |
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| The first stop
of this itinerary is Assisi.
Medieval town in all aspects, but above all Franciscan
in the spiritual atmosphere, is set down on a spur of
the Mountain Subasio, dominating the Umbrian valley. The
holiness of the place imprints the construction of the
urban scene and advises the key of reading of the town;
dominated from the profile by the Basilica of San Francesco,
masterpiece of the Italian gothic art. Perugia.
Clung on a hill, the town narrates the vitality of almost
the entire course of Italian art and of medieval and renaissance
mastery of the urban modeling environment. The leading
axes of the historical center, of Etruscan and Roman origin
are: the north-south axis (Corso Vannucci) that culminates
in the IV November Square and the tracing orthogonal,
constituted from Via dei Priori, regal road of large importance
city planning. IV November Square is certainly the artistic
and representative central point of the town. On the square
rises the Cathedral and the Palace of the Priori, counterbalanced
by the presence of the Fountain Maggiore. The Palace of
the Priori accommodates the National Gallery of Umbria,
the most complete museum collection of the region. |
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