Spello retains the traces of its long Roman and Lombard history, founded by the Umbrians. In Roman times, it was called “Hispellum” and was declared by Augustus as “Splendidissima Colonia Julia.” After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was destroyed by the Goths of Totila and became part of the Grand Duchy of Spoleto.
In the 12th century, it became an independent municipality and experienced a period of intense artistic activity, enriched by Renaissance masterpieces by Pinturicchio, Perugino, and Niccolò di Liberatore, known as l’Alunno.
Spello boasts a well-preserved Roman-era city wall, within which are three particularly important gates:
Porta Consolare, the main entrance to the Roman city, with a medieval square tower and three Republican marble statues.
Porta Venere, distinguished by three arched openings and flanked by two towers, known as the Towers of Propertius.
Porta Urbica, topped by a small watchtower.
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore
Also known as the collegiate church, it is divided into two parts: on the right is the Prioral Palace, and on the left is the Palace of the Canons, which houses the Civic Pinacoteca. Built with a single nave and a Latin cross plan, it features a valuable Deruta majolica floor (second half of the 16th century), the Baglioni Chapel frescoed by Pinturicchio, and the Chapel of the Sacrament.
Tega Chapel
Consisting of a single rectangular room, it hosts decorations by Niccolò di Liberatore, known as l’Alunno.
The Civic Pinacoteca
Housed within the Palace of the Canons, a building adjacent to the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The Church of Sant’Andrea
Dating back to 1025, inside it houses The Madonna in Throne with Saints, an oil painting on panel by Pinturicchio.
Villa dei Mosaici
One of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in Umbria, the Roman Villa of Spello is famous for its mosaics: human figures, scenes of daily life, wild and fantastic animals, geometric decorations, and stone carpets.