Spello (in Antiquity: Hispellum) is an ancient town and comune (township) of Italy, in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the lower southern flank of Mt. Subasio. It is 6 km (4 mi) NNW of Foligno and 10 km (6 mi) SSE of Assisi.
The old walled town lies on a regularly NW-SE sloping ridge that
eventually meets the plain. From the top of the ridge, Spello commands a
good view of the Umbrian plain towards Perugia; at the bottom of the ridge, the town spills out of its walls into a small modern section (or Borgo) served by the rail line from Rome to Florence via Perugia.
Populated in ancient times by the Umbri, it became a Roman colony in the 1st century BC. Under the reign of Constantine the Great it was called Flavia Constans, as attested by a document preserved in the local Communal Palace.
The densely-inhabited town, built of stone, is of decidedly medieval
aspect, and is enclosed in a circuit of medieval walls on Roman
foundations, including three Roman Late Antique gates (Porta Consolare, Porta di Venere
and the "Arch of Augustus") and traces of three more, remains of an
amphitheater, as well several medieval gates. Spello boasts about two
dozen small churches, most of them medieval: the most important are:
Santa Maria Maggiore (known from 1159), probably built over an ancient temple dedicated to Juno and Vesta. The façade has a Romanesque portal and a 13th century bell tower, while the pilasters next to the apse have frescoes by Perugino (1512). The most striking feature is the Baglioni Chapel, frescoed by Pinturicchio. The Umbrian artist was called to paint it around 1500 by Troilo Baglioni, after he had just finished the Borgia Apartment's decoration. The cycle include the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Dispute with the Doctors, plus four Sibyls in the vault. The Palazzo dei Canonici, annexed to the church, houses the Town's Art Gallery.
Sant'Andrea (known from 1025). The interior, on a single nave, has 14th century frescoes. There's also a panel by Pinturicchio. San Lorenzo (12th century). San Bernardino da Siena began his preaching season in this church in 1438. San Claudio (11th century or earlier), an elegant example of Romanesque architecture
with a rose window on the asymmetrical façade. The interior has 14th
century votive frescoes from the Umbrian school. It is said to have been
built on the remains of a Paleo-Christian cemetery.
Tega Chapel (14th century), with Umbrian school 15th century frescoes, including a Crucifixion attributed to Nicolò Alunno.
Other points of interest include:
Palazzo Comunale Vecchio ("Old Town Hall", built in 1270 and
enlarged after the end of the Baglioni seigniory, in 1567-1575). It has
some frescoed halls, one attributed to the Zuccari brothers. It is faced by a 16th century fountain.Palazzo Cruciali, built in the early 17th century.Palazzo Baglioni, erected as a fortificated mansion around 1359. The Governor's Hall has frescoes from the 16th century.Arch of Augustus (1st century BC-1st century AD).
In the plain, near S. Claudio, are the remains of a semi-excavated
Roman amphitheater; and a small valley to the east of the town is
remarkable for its traces of Roman centuriation.
Beyond the town proper, the comune's chief monuments are the church of San Silvestro at Collepino, and the church of the Madonna della Spella with late-medieval votive frescoes and graffiti.
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Beyond the town proper, the comune's chief monuments are the church of San Silvestro at Collepino, and the church of the Madonna della Spella with late-medieval votive frescoes and graffiti.
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