Spoleto had a much grittier and lived-in feeling than Assisi and was definately less tourist-y. Apparently at a cafe we met the man with the best English in the town (according to the guy at the bar).

The city had a pretty fantastic piazza in front of the Duomo. While you're walking down the street, you come across a large opening between buildings--the long stairs (with risers so small, it was almost a ramp) down to the piazza. The church itself was beautiful. Very simple and very light-filled. I especially loved the chandielers that were hung throughout the nave.

We've learned about this church in our Renaissance Art class. The frescos behind the alter were commissioned to Fra' Filippo Lippi, one of the Renaissance masters we are studying. He died while he was painting these frescos; his tomb by his son is in this church.

Our Renaissance Art teacher had never been to Spoleto before although she has taught about these paintings for years, so it was fun to watch her explore the city and to see the works she had been teaching about in person for the first time!

We didn't have much time in Spoleto--it was a 3 hour bus ride back to the villa, and we definately couldn't miss dinner--so we wanted around a little bit, snapped a few photos of the Roman amphiteater ruins and hopped on the bus back to Sesto.

If you happen to go to Spoleto, you must eat at this restaurant. It's location is in  a beautiful medieval building. I had lamb, gnocchi & spaghetti. The pasta noodles are egg free ( i think) & they are made in that region. The lamb was cooked in a stone oven. I haven't had food that was this fresh since snoopy was a pup. If the weather is nice, I recommend that  you eat outside in the courtyard garden. The meal was unexpectantly inexpensive.