Rich in history, the town was the seat of the Duchy of Spoleto, which, with its 55 dukes dominated part of central Italy for over 400 years, until the 13th century. The numerous works of art and architecture from the Roman era (amphitheatre, theatre, the Roman house, etc.) indicate the importance of Spoleto in the remote past.

After the end of the Duchy. the city became part of the Papal States. Under the dominion of the Church, the Rocca Albornoz was built, which takes its name from the Cardinal who ordered its constructio. An unassailable fortress, it is situated on the hill of Saint Elia, the highest point of the town. In recent history, from the mid 1800s to the 1970s, the Rocca was a prison. Beginning in 1984, an enormous undertaking of restoration returned the castle to its ancient beauty and returned it to the national historic treasury, and made it available to visitors. The fortress now houses the National Academy of Book Restoration and the Duchy Museum; It is also the place where many performances, including events of the Festival of Two Worlds, meetings, concerts, art exhibitions and dance shows are held.

Adjacent to the Rocca is the majestic Ponte delle Torri, built to supply water and to connect the city to Monteluco, the "holy mountain" of Spoleto. The bridge, 80 meters high, is one of the most important, audacious and best conserved examples of Medieval architecture.

Walking from the Rocca to the historical center, you can observe Piazza del Duomo, defined by many experts as one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The Cathedral of Spoleto, romanic building, century XII-XIII contains great works of Bernini, Pinturicchio and wonderful frescoes of Filippo Lippi, whose tomb is in one of the chapels in the cathedral.