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History of Spoleto

Ancient Age

Although traces indicate that man has inhabited this place since prehistory, the city of Spoleto was founded by the Umbrians in the VIII Century b.C.. In the 3rd century BC the city came under the influence of Rome as a colony named Spoletium. After the severe defeat suffered by the Romans at the Battle of Lake Trasimene, Spoleto successfully fended off Hannibal's besieging armies and became a valuable ally of Rome during the Punic Wars. It suffered greatly during the civil wars of Marius and Sulla. The latter, after his victory over Crassus, confiscated the territory of Spoletium (82 BC.). From this time forth it was a municipium. Under the empire it again became a flourishing town. It was situated on the Via Flaminia. The foundation of the episcopal see dates from the 4th century. Owing to its elevated position it was an important stronghold during the Vandal and Gothic wars; its walls were dismantled by Totila (Procop. Bell. got. iii. 12).

Middle Age

Later, under the Longobard dominion (6th-8th century)it was raised to be the seat of an important Dukedom and its dukes ruled a considerable part of central Italy. After having been a feudal stronghold of the Francs, at the fall of the Carolingian Empire, the Dukes of Spoleto namely Guido III (890) and his son Lamberto (892) succeeded in conquering the Imperial crown. Even though Spoleto was involved in the struggling fights between the Papal seat and the Empire, to the point of being destroyed by Frederick I in 1155, and in spite of the fierce fights between the Guelfi and the Ghibellini, Spoleto managed to continue its urbanistic development during the middle ages and especially during the Romanesque period.

In 1213 it was definitely occupied by Pope Gregory IX. By 1296 a new circle of walls, which we see today, had to be built to include the larger city. During the period in which the Papacy was exiled to Avignon, Cardinal Egidio Albornoz gave orders for the vast Albornoz fortress to be erected, between 1359 and 1370. This became the seat of the Papal governor of the city, among whom there was for a time the daughter of Pope Alexander VI, Lucrezia Borgia (1499). Masterpieces of inestimable architectural and pictorial value were produced (the Cathedral, S. Pietro, S. Eufemia, S. Paolo, S. Gregorio, S. Ponziano and the frescoes in S. Paolo, S. Gregorio and Ss. Giovanni e Paolo). After the exile of the Pope in Avignon, Pope Vincent VI restored the pontificial power, through the Cardinal Albornoz, who negotiated peace in the town and started building the "Rocca" (fortress) and the bridge of the Towers.

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Modern an Contemporary Age

The Renaissance bestowes Spoleto another magnificent artistic period mainly for the pictorial art (the frescoes by Filippo Lippi and the Pinturicchio in the Duomo, the frescoes by the Spagna).

Between the 17th and 18th century the city's noble families employed a conspicuous quantity of Roman architects and artists to renovate their family houses and the churches of Spoleto.

During the French occupation Spoleto was chosen as regional capital of the Trasimeno department and later became a Pontificial Delegation. With the unification of Italy (1861) the city's importance declined in favour of Perugia, which was appointed the regional capital of Umbria.

As well as boasting a startling array of architecture and art, the name of Spoleto has travelled the world also on account of the Two Worlds Festival founded here in 1957 by the composer Giancarlo Menotti.
The festival runs every year from the end of June into early July and remains one of Italy's most prestigious events of its kind, featuring music, opera, ballet, theatre and the visual arts.

The city also hosts the Settimana di Studi sull'Alto Medioevo (a week of studies focussing on the Middle Ages), organised in April by the University of Perugia, the cycle of organ recitals (April-June), the Stagione del Teatro Lirico Sperimentale (end of August - early October), the international "Orpheus" competition (August - September) and the international Opera Prima "V. Rippo" prize (September).

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