Spoleto (Italy) - National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto and Ponte delle Torri

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Slideshow | Lightbox (62) Tags: architecture europe history italy landmarks museums spoleto tourist-attraction Posted: March 20, 2011 by Serge

Various signs and travel guides may create an impression that Rocca Albornoziana and National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto are two different things. In reality, the Museum is an integral part of the fortress. The fortress houses the Museum; the latter makes the Rocca much more interesting.

My strong recommendation, do not hesitate to spend extra €1.50 to buy the "biglietto integrato" which give you access to museum area located on the first and second floors around the Ward of Honor of the Rocca. The truth is that the fortress and museum compliment each other in many ways - I cannot imagine how to draw the line between the two.

Restoration effort to bring the old castle back to its glory resulted in great success. Although many frescos and construction details have been lost forever, those that were possible to save will never seize to excite us - so beautiful they are. On the other hand, the creation of National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto has given an opportunity to preserve and display in one place many artifacts and pieces of art that otherwise would remain scattered in small churches sometimes without sufficient funds to preserve them for future generation.

Please visit our small photo gallery below dedicated to the Museum. It does not pretend to cover any substantial part of it; hopefully, it is good enough to wake up your appetite so that one day you may decide to visit it to see for yourself. Also, we added a few photos of Il Ponte delle Torri (The Bridge of Towers) that you will come across on your way back to Spoleto center. The Bridge does not relate to the Rocca and its museum. However, it is there, and it is another example of beautiful architecture that despite the toll of time and many earthquakes in the area still stands for our enjoyment.

Our first part of photo gallery is dedicated to the Rocca Albornoziana itself. If you missed it, please visit it. On this page we continue our tour visiting the National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto located in the fortress. On our way back, we will explore Ponte delle Torri (the Bridge of Towers).

This room already belongs to the National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy). The room served different functions at different times. Originally it was used as a deposit for weapons, gunpowder, horse harnesses, etc. It was called 'camera dell tinello'. Later, in 17th century, it was used as one on the governer's offices. In 19th century, when Rocca Albornoz was used as a prison, it became a dormitory.

National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy): Sarcophagus of Lucio baebro sabino, limestone, IV - V century from the church of S. Sabino in Spoleto.

National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy): The front panel of sarcophagus of Pontia, white marble, mid 4th century, from Oratorio di S. Giovenale Macerino, Acquasparta (Umbria, province of Terni).

Rocca Albornoziana (Spoleto, Italy): windows constructed as long, narrow apertures were very typical for medieval castles.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy): in many of its rooms there are original (though restored) frescos.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy): another example of beautiful art survived from early days of Rocca Albornoziana.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Sala della Giustizia (The Justice Room): the fresco, allegory of the Giustizia (Justice)
National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Sala della Giustizia (The Justice Room): the fresco, coat of arms of Pope Pius VII (Barnaba Chiaramonti, Pope from 1800 to 1823).	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - originally, this room (still called The Oven Room) was used to produce bread.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - the coat of arms of the Cardinal Borromeo (1538-1584) painted in the middle of The Oven Room vault (indicating the room lost its original function).	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - the hall dedicated to Luigi Antonini. In 15th century the space was divided into three rooms: anteroom (connected to kitchen beneath), Lord's bedroom and Lord's studio. Decoration of the rooms were modified in 17th century. During prison period, rooms were significantly modified to serve as large cells. The current single hall is the result of recent restoration.
National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Martyrdom of the saints Giovanni and Paul, fresco (detached), end of 12th century from the Church of SS. Giovanni and Paolo in Spoleto.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Crocifisso, anonymous, tempera on wood, 13th century, from the Monastery of Stella in Spoleto.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - view on the chapel adjacent to the Oven Tower (Torre del Forno). The structure was built outside the defensive wall (supported by a pillar). The design obstructed the defense of the castle's east wall.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Martyrdom of San Biagio, anonymous, white marble, end of 12th - beginning of 13th century, from the Church of S. Nicolo in Spoleto.
National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - fresco in one of the rooms over the portico. It says, FINISCE TUTTO, FINISCE - " everything ends, everything ". No, it was said long before Max De Angelis wrote his song "Sono qui per questo" in 2005.	The Pope Room at National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy). Decoration was created during the time of Pope Niccolo V (1458-1464).	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Madonna, anonymous, carved and painted wood, middle 14th century, from the Parrocchiale (parochial church) a Capodacqua di Foligno (Perugia)	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - wall pattern in one of the room over the portico. In records of 1444 and 1458, the room was called the "Agnus Dei" room. The decoration was revealed during the restoration of 1987 and dated to the original construction times.
National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Il Trittico (The Triptych) di S. Maria delle Grazie, Nicolo di Liberatore (known as l'Alunno), tempera on wood, 1475, from the church of S. Maria delle Grazie a Monteluco di Spoleto.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Madonna con bambino tra Santi, attributed to Jacopo Vincioli, tempera on wood, end of 15th century, from the church of S. Simone in Spoleto.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Salone d'Onore (Hall of Honor), the largest room in Rocca Albornoziana taking the whole space between two median towers. The room remained unfinished for a long time - until it was used to welcome Lucrezia Borgia (1499). At the end of 16th century Gregory XII and Sixtus V embellished the room and installed a huge fireplace.	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Camera Pinta (Painted Room), one of the gems of Rocca Albornoziana. The name originates from paintings discovered in the room. The two areas of the room (bedroom and study) decorated with scenes of courtly love, chivalry, hunting, gathering fruits as if conveying various romantic stories. Due to the coat of arms found of Marino Tornacelli (from family of Pope Bonifacio IX) here, paintings are dated to 1392 - 1416 when he was the governor of Spoleto.
National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - a fragment of frescos in Camera Pinta (Painted Room).	National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) - Camera Pinta (Painted Room), entrance to the toilet.	To explore the National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy) and Rocca Albornoziana, you will need two - three hours or more. On your way back, you may stop at La Portella - Bar Gelateria, a friendly place under trees with beautiful vistas on Spoleto countryside.	Rocca Albornoziana (Spoleto, Italy) - that is how its outer walls look from outside.
On your way back from Rocca Albornoziana (Spoleto, Italy) you will see Hotel Gattapone (Via del Ponte, 6, 06049 Spoleto, Italy). It is a good hotel if you want to stay away from traffic in Spoleto. Reviews are good, prices are from €170 to €230 (high season, 2010).	Ponte delle Torri (Bridge of Towers) rises above the Tessino River - one of the reasons to visit Rocca Albornoziana.	The Tower Bridge is 774 ft (236 m) long and 249 ft (76 m) high and consists of pointed arches with stone pillars. On top, there is a wide passage - almost a road probably capable of accepting a small car and a water channel constructed at the very top of the structure. Most scholars agree that the structure replaced an old Roman aqueduct and certainly predates the construction of Rocca Albornoziana.	The Ponte delle Torri is a magnificent example of human ingenuity. The structure and its surrounding impressed Wolfgang Goethe, 18th century German writer, who described the bridge in his "Viaggio in Italia."
A closer view on the tower on the other side of Ponte delle Torri. The tower is in a very bad shape - soon, if not taken care of, it will transform in ruins. The font and its enclosing building is in a better shape.	If you have time and stamina, you can cross the bridge and explore the other side of the valley. This map shows many hiking trails in the area. Many places of interest are not that far. For example, from the tower on the other side of the Ponte delle Torri to Monteluco is only half a mile (about 0.8 km).	The view on Rocca Albornoziana and Ponte delle Torri from the hills on the other side of the bridge.	The view on the road from Rocca Albornoziana to Spoleto. In the middle of the photo is the Hotel Gattapone.