Spello

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club

Lying on an outcrop of Mount Subasio, Spello is a fascinating village, with its ancient sandstone houses, narrow, winding alleys from the Middle Ages, sudden panoramic glimpses of the surrounding hills and more well-preserved traces of the Roman presence than any other town in the region.

Sights include the walls, the Augustan gates (Porta Urbica, Porta Consolare and Porta Venere), the remains of theamphitheatre and spa, and the Villa of mosaics. Also worth a visit are the church of Santa Maria Maggiore with the Baglioni chapel, admirably frescoed by Pinturicchio, the church of Sant'Andrea from the 13th century and the collegiate church of San Lorenzo. Just outside the walls, in Contrada Prato, are theArch of Augustus, the Subasio theatre and the Vallegloria monastery.

Spello is also famous for the infiorate, carpets of flower petals composed by real artists to celebrate Corpus Christi. There is never a shortage of typical olive oil at the table, which is also celebrated at Carnival with a festival in the taverns of the town centre.