A beautiful drive through the mountains took us to the charming arts-colony town of Spoleto. Famous for the Spoleto international arts festival, Spoleto also offered to us a hotel OUTSIDE the wall of the historic center, WITH a parking space (yay). We checked in to the Hotel Clarici, then spent two days exploring. The Museum of Costume and Textile was worth a visit, but also under construction so we couldn’t see it all. Check out the shoes from the 1700s. We toured one of many churches, and saw ancient confessionals, sacred art, and a Fra Fillipo Lippi. After a midday tour of the Rocca, the immense fort that overlooks all of Spoleto, we stopped for lunch at the hilltop bar/cafe. Mike had the panini. Liz ordered tagliere because she thought it was pasta — but no! Tagliere just means “cut up pieces,” so we split our “cut up pieces” of cheese, bruschetta, salsiccia, et al. Although we were hoping to visit the Spoleto museum, which occupies the fort, we couldn’t. It was closed. We are still unable to puzzle out the Italian system for hours of business. Are there any?

Spoleto, Italy

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