UMBRIAN DUET

Take a trip back in time on this full-day excursion to two delightful Umbrian towns. You will relive the glories of the region’s medieval and Renaissance heyday as you wander through the atmospheric historic centres of Spello and Spoleto.

Perched on the southern slopes of Mount Subasio, Spello is a gracious little town with a remarkable artistic and cultural heritage. A jumble of honey-hued stone buildings with weathered wooden doors and terracotta roof tiles huddles on a hillside, enclosed by walls from the Augustan age. Five ancient Roman gates welcome visitors to the old centre, beckoning them in to explore its magical maze of alleys adorned with blooming balconies and hanging baskets. On the day of Corpus Christi additional splashes of colour are provided by the marvellous flower carpets created for the Infiorata Festival, Spello’s most famous religious celebration. Every year, on the ninth Sunday after Easter, green-fingered citizens try to outdo each other by assembling leaves and petals in elaborate compositions, turning the streets into a riot of hues and scents.

Your first stop is the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, housing Spello’s most prized jewel. Here Pinturicchio, one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, decorated the Baglioni Chapel in 1501 with precious frescoes featuring Scenes from the Life of the Virgin Mary and Christ’s Childhood. Your guide will point out features of particular significance and explain how the painter’s skilful use of a brilliant palette, his realistic representation of space, perspective and light and painstaking attention to detail have earned this cycle its rightful place among the masterpieces of the history of Italian art. Just a few steps away, inside the Church of Sant’Andrea you may admire another of Pinturicchio’s works, the splendid 1508 panel painting portraying a Madonna enthroned with Saints. From here a short walk will take you to the monumental Porta Venere gate and Towers of Properzio where you will turn the clock back to the 1st century BC and hear about Spello’s early beginnings as a prosperous Roman colony. Not to be missed are also Piazza Comunale, dominated by the elegant 13th century town hall, and the Belvedere, a panoramic terrace from which you will take in sweeping views of the verdant Umbrian landscape.

After some free time for lunch, a 30-minute drive will bring you to Spoleto, a charming hilltop town dominated by a 14th century fortress and set against the backdrop of the majestic Apennines. A true treasure trove of artistic and architectural wonders, spanning hundreds of years, Spoleto dispenses surprises at every corner. Your guide will lead you on a trail across pretty squares, up and down stairways and cobbled streets, and make sure you take note of its famous landmarks.

Traces of Spoleto’s 2,000-year-old history, including its early days as a thriving Roman settlement, still survive within the beautifully preserved medieval fabric which incorporates the ruins of an ancient arch, a temple and theatre, as well as pre-Roman remains of stone walls. One of Spoleto’s finest features is the striking Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Among the masterpieces to be found inside are the intricately-patterned marble and mosaic flooring, Filippo Lippi’s apse frescoes representing Scenes from the Life of the Virgin Mary, the Eroli Chapel decorated by Pinturicchio and an authentic 13th century letter thought to be written by St. Francis himself.

The delightful Piazza del Duomo in front of the cathedral is the setting for concerts held during the Festival dei Due Mondi, a popular cultural summer event that lasts a fortnight and takes place every year between the end of June and beginning of July. At that time Spoleto explodes with colour and creativity: art exhibitions and poetry readings are held in locations across the town, ballet and theatre performances draw an enthusiastic audience and an open air stage starring internationally acclaimed artists provides a glorious focal point for the seasonal celebrations.

After the tour your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation.