The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is a 12th-century church with a beautiful Romanesque façade. Inside, see remarkable frescoes and other religious works of art in a stunning Baroque interior.
Find this majestic ecclesiastical structure at the foot of a staircase leading down from the Piazza del Duomo. Gaze at the lovely rose window set above the renaissance portico found at the base of the cathedral. Above this window, view a fresco portraying Christ positioned between St. John and the Virgin Mary. Come to the church at night when a golden light illuminates the arches of its colonnade.
Capture photos of the cathedral’s tall stone bell tower, which can seen on the skyline in many other parts of the town. Beside the entrance is an intriguing fountain made from a Roman sarcophagus.
Step inside and admire the impressive fresco of the Life of the Virgin in the apse. Note that the work consists of four scenes, including the Annunciation and the Nativity. Artist Fra Filippo Lippi began this work in the 15th century and his assistants continued to work on it after his death. See the artist’s tomb, which was designed by his son.
Walk around the cathedral’s Baroque interior, which was created in the 17th century. Gaze up at the white arched columns and chandeliers that decorate the nave. Drop a coin in the slot to light up the striking 15th-century Madonna and Child fresco by artist Pinturicchio. Look at the colorful Romanesque crucifix found on the altar at the back of the left aisle, which dates back to the 12th century.
Visit this active church any day from morning until early evening. Note that it closes for a few hours around lunchtime. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is found south of Spoleto’s town center. Ride a bus to one of the nearby stops or take a taxi. You can also try walking along the city’s innovative moving pathway, which stretches here from the Spoleto Railway Station 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) south .
No visit to Spoleto is complete without a tour of this landmark cathedral.
