.Tour of Spello and Montefalco.
This tour is conducted by car.
Spello is a small ancient town that is included “in the list of the most beautiful medieval Italian villages”.
It is a marvellous synthesis of architecture from several historical periods and Umbrian landscapes, charming streets and old stone houses.
Spello’s main attraction is the town itself, its hundreds of steep medieval streets and staircases, arches and alleyways set in wonderfully beautiful countryside. Sights dating back more than three millennia can be found in Spello. Outside the town there is an ancient Roman amphitheatre, but this has unfortunately not been excavated and is effectively closed to the public. There are also some of the best preserved city walls in Italy, some of which were built by the Romans, including several city gates.
The ancient church of San Lorenzo, dating from the 12th century and rebuilt in the 16th century. The interior of the church is decorated with beautiful frescoes.
The Porta Romana are fragments of an ancient Roman gate. Not far from them is the Gothic church of Santa Maria di Vallegloria, which is famous for the frescoes of Asensidonio Sporta.
The upper part of the city is called “Rocca”. It was once a medieval fortress, of which some towers have been preserved.
It is now home to the Capuchin monastery and the ancient Romanesque church of San Severino.
In June, on the feast day of Corpus Christi, the streets of Spello are filled with different kinds of flowers, the petals of which make up the paintings and drawings that decorate all the streets and alleys of the town. (We advise arriving very early to see everything).
Montefalco – cited as one of Italy’s most beautiful ancient towns, Montefalco dominates the valley from Perugia to Spoleto, the plains of the Topino and Clitunno rivers, and offers panoramic views that take your breath away, earning it the nickname “the terrace of Umbria”.
Its medieval origins are evidenced by its 13th-century walls, where there are five entrances, towers; the town hall square.
While visiting the historic centre of this Umbrian town, one must stop at one of the many wine shops and enotecas and savour the red wines that have made Montefalco famous throughout the world.
The church-museum of San Francesco, which has preserved in its interior frescoes the narrative of the life of St Francis in twenty episodes and twelve scenes created by the master Benozzo Gozzoli, pupil of Beato Angelico, in 1452. There is also a fascinating masterpiece of the Nativity, painted in 1503 by the master Pietro Vannucci, known as Perugino.
The visit includes the Church-Museum of St Francis, with 15th-century frescoes and an interesting art gallery.
The visit includes the Church-Museum of St Francis, with its 15th-century frescoes and interesting art gallery.
