How to Spend One Day in Spoleto, Italy

In May of 2025, I attended a month-long adult study abroad program in Rome, Italy. Throughout the month, I studied Italian, learned about Rome’s art history, and took a few trips out of the city with 37 other adult learners. 

On day three of orientation weekend, we all boarded a bus, bound for Umbria—Spoleto, to be precise! The program director spent a few years living in Spoleto and enjoys bringing classes there to experience the charming medieval town.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the photos I saw online before visiting promised winding cobblestone streets, a hilltop castle, a centuries-old aqueduct, and, of course, amazing food.

What I didn’t expect was the kindness from the artists when I wandered into their shops or the warmth from the Nonna who helped me pick out local salsas and olive oil. 

I also really appreciated the quiet of the town. Spoleto was a welcome break from the crowds gathering in Rome for the Jubilee year and to witness the election of a new Pope.

I enjoyed the brief respite, and I especially enjoyed eating an award-winning pistachio gelato after exploring the sites of the town. I think a day trip to Spoleto is a worthwhile addition to your Rome itinerary!

A Brief History of Spoleto 

I won’t go too much into the rich history of Spoleto, because like most of Italy, it is long, storied, and has plenty of twists and turns. Let’s just go over the highlights so we can appreciate just how long this town has been around.

The first settlement here was built by the Umbri tribe in the 5th Century BC! Some of the town is built upon those very walls. Eventually the Romans made it a colony due to its strategic location for trade and protection. 

Spoletans actually stopped the progress of Hannibal on to Rome during the second Punic War (all of this still BC era). Spoleto thrived under the Roman Empire but after its collapse was ruled by various people including the Byzantines and Goths. 

After a few more wars, Spoleto eventually became part of the Holy Roman Empire as a papal state in 1198. 

In more recent history, Spoleto’s economy suffered greatly after World War II as agricultural jobs became unavailable and many citizens left Spoleto. However, this led to a modern rebirth of the town. Artists took up residency in the square’s vacant storefronts.

Many festivals and cultural events were started, including the famous music festival, the Festival dei due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds), which is held annually in June and July. This festival includes live performances of opera, dance, music, as well as art exhibits and discussions. This festival, created by composer Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958, is one of the many great reasons to add Spoleto to your itinerary.

How to Spend a Day in Spoleto, Italy

There are many things to do in Spoleto, and I only had a few hours to check them out so I had to prioritize. I did not make it to the Roman Amphitheater (it was also under restoration during my visit). But if it’s open, it looks like a solid addition to a day in Spoleto!

Rocca Albornoziana

Start your day in Spoleto at the castle located at the highest point in Spoleto, at the top of Colle Sant’Elia, Rocca Albornoziana.

Rocca Albornoziana was built in the 14th century at the order of Pope Innocent VI to reassert papal authority in central Italy.

The formidable fortress was used to command Via Flaminio the main road through Umbria, and lead campaigns to bring parts of Umbria back under papal control.

It then became the home of various city governors and papal legates, who decorated the interior with frescoes.

Like many old fortresses, it eventually turned into a jail, and it operated as a jail from 1816 until 1982. Many of the frescoes were lost during this time, and while it has been restored to the original layout, most of the frescoes are gone. 

Today, it houses the National Museum of the Duchy, which tells the story of Spoleto from the 4th century to the 15th century.

To enter, the cost is €7.50. You can see updated hours and other details here. 

As I only had a few short hours to see as much as possible in Spoleto, I opted not to enter the castle, instead I walked around the base of it to see the aqueduct!

Ponte delle Torri

The medieval Ponte delle Torri (Bridge of Towers) is a 80m (262 ft) tall and 230m (754 ft) long aqueduct that connects Spoleto to Monteluco. The aqueduct was built somewhere between the 13th and 14th centuries to bridge the gap between Rocca Albomoziana and Fortilizio dei Mulini (the Mulini fort). It also brought water to every corner of Spoleto.  

There is a walking path above the aqueduct’s 9 arches that offers stunning views and photo opportunities of the surrounding countryside. 

It doesn’t take too long to walk across the aqueduct, but if you just want to relax and enjoy the views there are benches along Via Gattaponi or stop for a spritz at Bar La Portella 1980.

You may see a cute and very friendly orange cat along the way. He’s even on Google Maps! I caught a quick glimpse of him before he tucked under a car for some shade.

Duomo di Spoleto 

From Ponte delle Torre, follow the road to Spoleto Cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta) one of Italy’s oldest churches. Spoleto’s Romanesque Basilica is the dramatic focal point of Piazza del Duomo and an unmissable attraction in town. 

The Romanesque facade of the cathedral is from the 12th century and has the quintessential rose windows that frame a Byzantine mosaic of Christ, in between the Virgin Mary and St. John, giving a blessing. 

Perhaps the most famous aspect of the interior of the cathedral is the apse, where you’ll find frescoes depicting the life of the Virgin Mary by the venerated Florentine painter, Fra Filippo Lippi. These frescoes are the last pieces of art from Filippo Lippi, who died in Spoleto before they were finished, and who is buried in the cathedral.  

There is a guided tour available called the Spirit of the Art Tour. This includes an audio guide describing the art within, the Diocesan Museum, the Church of Sant’Eufemia, and the bell tower. It’s worth the €9.00 to get a better understanding of the importance of this church and the works within.

Read more about the Spoleto Cathedral here.

Casa Romana

Casa Romana was one of my favorite things to visit in Spoleto. It’s easy to miss because it’s on a side street but it’s right near the Spoleto Cathedral and Palazzo Comunale on Via di Visale.

This Roman house dates back to the 1st Century AD and was found during excavations in the late 1800s. 

Stepping into this house provides a glimpse of what a Roman villa of a prominent family would’ve looked like.

Upon entering, you’ll see a basin for collecting rainwater and a well for drawing water from the underground reservoir. Surrounding this atrium are bedrooms, living spaces, and a receiving area (at the back). 

I loved the amazingly preserved mosaic floors. I’ve only been in Rome for a few short days, but I love how everything is beautifully decorated, the floors included. Some of the walls even still have frescoes on them.

There are display cases as well that include pieces of the walls that were decorated with paintings and other household items, including hair pins!

It doesn’t take much time out of the day and is well worth visiting!.

It costs €5.00 to enter.

Piazza Del Mercato

Piazza del Mercato is the main square in Spoleto where you’ll find numerous restaurants, a variety of shops, award-winning gelato, and the stunning fontana con l’orologio (fountain with the clock).

The fountain was built between 1746 and 1748. You’ll see the four coats of arms of the Barberini family and the honeybees that symbolize Bishop Maffeo Barberini, who later became Pope Urban VIII!

In front of the fountain, you may be lucky enough to see the Porchetta truck (usually only there on Saturdays). Here you can get a porchetta sandwich for a budget-friendly lunch or ask for slices of porchetta to take home with you. I did the latter as we had a huge group lunch planned. I used it at home in Rome for salads and mixed it with my eggs for breakfast!

Arco di Druso

Near the end of the Piazza is the Arco di Druso (Roman Arch of Drusus), the original arch dedicated to Drusus and Germanicus, the two sons of Emperor Tiberius. This archway is where visitors entered the city walls and the heart of Spoleto from Via Flamino. 

To the right of the arch is a small staircase where you can walk on the original street level and paving of the ancient town. 

Shop Locally

The streets surrounding Piazza del Mercato are filled with artisan shops. You’ll find jewelry stores, linen shops, wine and food stores, and my personal favorite is a leather shop.

I wandered into Opera Lènta, where the owner was bent over a table working on something. As I perused the leather-bound notebooks with raw-edged paper, leather bracelets, and other leather goods.

I asked him a simple question about the price of one of the forest green books with a border on it that reminded me of a Celtic design, and he opened up about his work.

He let me try making my own border using the tool from the 1900s that created it. He said he had a larger lab and taught classes in the new town of Spoleto. He opens this shop in the old town square on Saturdays to make sure tourists like myself could shop.

After a few more minutes chatting I met up with the rest of the group for a delicious Italian lunch.

Indulge in Italian Cuisine

AJ, the program director, coordinated a stunning multi-course lunch at Il Tempio del Gusto. It started with sharing plates of various cured meats and grilled vegetables. We had a beautiful soup, mushroom risotto, and then an option for steak, tuna, or a veggie dish.

Already quite full, I did a full send for the steak and was greeted with a steak that could’ve been a meal in itself. I was only slightly jealous of the delicate pieces of seared tuna on the plates of my classmates turning to friends. 

Thankfully, they let me package it up to take home, where I made steak and eggs the next morning for breakfast.

This meal was accompanied by copious amounts of local wine, a bottle of which sat in a bag at my feet.

I would definitely recommend getting a reservation at Il Tempio del Gusto, but if you can’t get a table, there are plenty of other wonderful restaurants to choose from in Spoleto.

Eat Award-Winning Gelato

We all saved a little space in our bellies for a couple of scoops of award-winning gelato from Crispini. An afternoon gelato was quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the day in Italy.

I opted for the pistachio, which has won awards worldwide. I paired it with chocolate, and as I turned to go, Chiara, one of AJ’s assistants, told me this was a typical order for Italians. 

The pistachio was the best gelato I had for the entire month in Italy. Do yourself a favor and get a scoop or two from Crispini Pistacchieria to end your day in Spoleto.

Where is Spoleto

Spoleto is located in the southeastern region of Umbria at the foot of the Apennine Mountain range.

It’s about 20 km (12 mi) south of Trevi, 29 km (18 mi) north of Terni, 63 km (39 mi) southeast of Perugia; 212 km (132 mi) southeast of Florence; and 126 km (78 mi) north of Rome.

How to Get to Spoleto from Rome

Since this post is about doing a day trip to Spoleto from Rome, I’ll focus on how to get there from Italy’s capital city. That being said, Spoleto is well served by Italy’s train network.

To Spoleto by Train

To get to Spoleto from Rome via the train, your journey starts at the Termini Station. The train ride takes approximately 1.5 hours and arrives in the new town area of Spoleto. From there, it’s about a 30-minute walk uphill to the medieval city center.

Don’t sweat the climb, though; the town has installed a series of escalators to take you from the bottom to the top and various parts of the town. So you don’t need to walk, unless, of course, you want to.

If you are staying the night and have luggage, you can also take a taxi from the train station to your accommodation in about 10-15 minutes.

Check train timetables and prices here.

To Spoleto by Bus

Flixbus operates a route to Spoleto. It takes about two hours one way. However, the direct bus does not operate daily and when it does, it’s an evening bus. So you may need to plan an overnight in Spoleto if that’s the route you take.

Check Flixbus for more details on routes, timetables, and prices. 

To Spoleto by Car

If you’re renting a car for an Italian road trip, you can easily drive to Spoleto. I recommend parking in the lower town area to avoid navigating the narrow streets of the medieval town.

To Spoleto by Guided Tour

Alternatively, you can take a day trip to Spoleto that also includes stops in other important towns in Umbria, such as Rocca Porena and Cascia.

Book your day trip to Umbria here.

The Number One Thing to Know Before You Go

As mentioned above, the medieval center of Spoleto is situated up on a hill. This means it is  a steep climb to the top!

However, you can avoid this by using the escalators or people movers (like those found in airports).

You can get off at various points to access different levels of the town. I recommend taking the escalator all the way to the castle at the top, walking around the castle to see the aqueduct and then making your way downhill to see the rest of the fun things to do in Spoleto!

Where to Stay in Spoleto

Want to spend more than a day in Spoleto or use it as a stop on your greater Italian road trip? There are some great places to stay in Spoleto.

Hotel Gattapone

Enjoy panoramic views of Ponte del Torre and the valley below from the private terrace and bar at Hotel Gattapone. This former villa has 12 simple, yet modern rooms, and breakfast is included.

Check rates and availability here.

Aurora Boutique Hotel

This charming boutique hotel is located in the heart of Spoleto and has nothing but 5-star reviews on Google for the friendly staff and excellent views! They also offer parking if you’re driving. 

Check rates and availability here.

Agriturismo Collerisana

Looking for a unique place to stay in Spoleto. Check out this farmstay, which has an infinity pool that overlooks the green hills of the valley and Spoleto. There are only three rooms available so it’s the perfect place to unwind and relax. It’s only an 8-minute drive to the historic center of Spoleto, or you can rent an e-bike to get to and from town.

Check rates and availability here.