Spoleto

Today a group of professors from the UPS went on an outing to Spoleto…

Streets of Spoleto, where automobile traffic is restricted to residents only

The city is older than Rome… Overlooking the city is a fortress constructed in the 1300s, at the command of Innocent VI. Heading the construction was the Spanish cardinal Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Alboroz, who was papal legate to the Papal States in a campaign to pacify the area and pave the way for the return of the pope to Rome. The fortress, called La Rocca (the Rock) overlooks the city and has a commanding view of the mountain passes.

La Rocca (the Rock) is the Fortress of Spoleto

The Rock was never conquered in six centuries that it served as a military fortress. In 1815 it was converted into a penitentiary, and remained as such until 1982. Since that time the Rock has been restored, although much of the original art and frescoes had been destroyed during the long period that it served as a prison. Now it is a cultural center for Spoleto and Umbria.

The city is surrounded by forest land - and is perched on a mountain top. It was once surrounded by a double wall.

View of Spoleto from the mountain forests surrounding the city

… and there are many interesting historical and geographical features to Spoleto, which is located precisely in the geographical center of Italy.

View of Piazza Duomo from the entrance of the cathedral - at the opposite end of the piazza are the Steps of the Discourse, and at the top of the steps is the City Hall

Two popes came from this city. Neither was a native, but both served as archbishop here before his election. The first was Urban VIII. The second was Pius IX.

Bronze bust of Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini) originally located in the cathedral now in the Museum of the Diocese

Besides sight-seeing, we had the chance to mix and talk and enjoy each other's company.

José Ramón Uria, Associate professor of canon law (L), discusses chestnuts and new wine with Cosimo Semeraro, professor of Church History (C) and Antonio Arto, professor of psychology, at the end of the afternoon.