Spello, Italy: Umbria’s Beautiful Flower Town
Spello, Italy, is a small medieval hill town in the heart of Umbria, just a short drive from Assisi and Perugia. It’s famous for its flower-lined streets, stone alleyways, and charming homes that look straight out of a fairytale. Every corner is so photogenic, especially in spring and early summer, when locals decorate their doorways and balconies with overflowing blooms. However, even if you go in September like I did, you will still find the gorgeous flowers decorating the streets.
Spello is famous for the Infiorata Festival, which is held every June. The streets are covered in intricate flower carpets for Corpus Domini. But even outside of festival time, it’s stunning year-round.
It’s a slower, quieter alternative to Tuscany. You’ll find gorgeous views, olive groves, and quaint streets without the crowds.
After basing myself here for a week, I truly fell in love with Spello.
Just a heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Your support helps me continue doing what I love ♡. Thank you! Read our Affiliate Disclosure here.
Is Spello Worth Visiting?
Spello is 100% worth visiting! The town is insanely picturesque. In fact, it is officially recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy (I Borghi più belli d’Italia). I loved strolling the charming cobblestone streets lined with endless flowers. The town has an authentic Italian feel and it’s not too crowded with tourists. It’s a true hidden gem in Italy.
Check out my video from my trip on Spello:
When to Visit Spello, Italy
The best time to visit Spello is in the Spring and if you’re lucky enough to visit during the flower festival (Infiorate), it takes place yearly in June.
During Spring and in June of course, you will find the most flowers decorating the town. I personally missed the peak of it and visited in September, but I was still able to find so many flowers decorating the town. I know it may be fewer, but it still felt just as cheerful with all the gorgeous blooms. You can see in all my photos in this post just how it looked like in September.
How long do you need in Spello
I would recommend at least a full day to explore Spello so you can explore all the cute streets, eat lunch, and get a feel for the entire place. I stayed an entire week, which is a long time, but I used it as a base to explore the surrounding villages in Umbria.
How to Get to Spello, Italy
The closest Airport to Spello is Perugia San Francesco d’Assisi. It’s only a 15-minute drive away. You can also fly into Florence or Rome to get to Spello and take the train or drive. Rome is a 2-hour train to Spello and Florence is a 3 hour train.
How to Get Around Spello
You can easily walk the entire town of Spello with no need to have a car. Spello is a wonderful base for your Umbria trip because you can get around by train easily. It’s situated 10 minutes from the train station which is only 1 stop from Assisi and a 40 minute train journey from Perugia.
I use an app / website called Omio to get train tickets.
If you have a car, it’s pretty easy to get to the other towns from Spello, Italy too. Having a car is ideal as you will have the freedom to explore Umbria and it’s hidden corners. Some of the towns are really off the grid with limited public transport. I always hire a car via Discover Cars. You can get full protection insurance from them and discover the cheapest rates across multiple rental companies.
You won’t really find a rental agency in Spello, so I’d recommend to get it in Perugia’s city center or the Perugia airport.
Where to Stay
I personally stayed in this 3 bedroom apartment, just a 7-minute walk from the station and a 3-minute walk to the town entrance. It was super affordable, especially given that it was a huge place.
The location was very accessible if you wanted to take the train to other villages. If you have a car, they had parking.
But the best part of the stay was how kind and welcoming the owners are. Mara was so kind to offer to take me to the airport as it was on her way to where she was heading that day. She checked in with me and even gave me local tips!
However, if you want to stay in the village itself, it may require a bit more walking uphill. You can check all the best hotels in Spello here.
Best Things to Do in Spello, Italy
1. Explore the city walls
Spello is surrounded by stone walls, and you will find Roman gates on each side of the village.
Porta Consolare (Consolare Gate) marks the main entrance into Spello’s old town, dating back to the 1st century BC. It’s one of the best-preserved Roman gates in Umbria. You’ll spot three ancient statues embedded in its facade.
Porta Venere (Venus’ Gate) sits on the other side of the village. This gate was built in the 1st century BC. It features two tall cylindrical towers known as the Torri di Properzio (Towers of Propertius), named after the Roman poet Propertius, who was born in the area.
The name “Venus’ Gate” likely refers to a nearby temple once dedicated to the goddess Venus. It’s a gorgeous spot for photos, especially in the late afternoon when the light hits the stone perfectly. It’s also the perfect place to watch the sunset. As you walk up to the gate there’s endless beautiful views of the Umbrian countryside.
2. Wander the flower-lined streets
There’s no shortage of cute streets in Spello. So many of them are lined with gorgeous flowers. The locals clearly take pride in making their town look beautiful, and it really shows.
In fact, Spello even has a competition (Finestre, Balconi e Vicoli Fioriti) for the prettiest balconies, doorways, and corners. Residents decorate their homes with colorful flowers and plants. If you look closely while wandering around, you’ll spot small plaques on the walls marking past winners.
Some of the most beautiful streets in Spello that I explored included Via Borgo San Sisto, Via Sant’Angelo, Vicolo dei Baci, Via Arco di Augusto, Via Dell ‘Ospedale. I found that the more I ventured out of the main center of Spello, the more quaint the streets I found. Like that towards via Giulia street, which I almost missed completely.
However, I recommend exploring on your own to discover your personal favorites.
Via Borgo San Sisto: This street has won numerous awards for being beautiful and is one of the main pictures you see when you search Spello.
Vicolo dei Baci and Via Arco di Augusto:
3. See the Infiorata Festival (if visiting in June)
The Infiorata festival is one of Spello’s most amazing events, held every year for the Feast of Corpus Christi. For a few days, the town’s streets are completely covered with intricate carpets made of flower petals, leaves, and colored sawdust, forming patterns that range from religious scenes to beautiful geometric designs.
If you have the chance to visit, you are truly lucky! This is the one time a year when the town is packed with visitors, all coming to see the incredible floral art. The streets are full of energy, with people wandering, taking photos, and enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Colfiorito is a beautiful flower field where many locals go to pick flowers to prepare for the festival. It’s amazing to see how the community comes together to make the town look so magical. I’ve heard some of the locals will let you participate in the flower creations if you come a couple days before.
The flower designs are judged by a panel of experts, usually based on creativity, technique, color, and overall impact.
It was crazy for me to hear that after all the hard work, these beautiful flower carpets are on display for one day. During the festival, a priest walks over the flower streets in a religious procession, blessing them and completing the celebration. By the next morning, the petals are gone.
The Infiorata di Spello in 2026 is scheduled for June 6–7, coinciding with the Feast of Corpus Christi, which is celebrated on the ninth Sunday after Easter.
4. Visit Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria Maggiore is Spello’s main church. The outside looks simple, but inside you’ll find the Baglioni Chapel, covered in incredible Renaissance frescoes by Pinturicchio. The colors and details are stunning – you can even spot a tiny self-portrait of the artist!
5. Relax at the main square in the heart of the city
Piazza della Repubblica is Spello’s main square. In the center, a pretty fountain surrounded by historic buildings and cozy cafés. There’s also a green space with benches. Tons of locals just relax here as it’s a peaceful spot. You will also find in the square the Torre Civica, which features a large clock.
6. Try porchetta sandwiches at Porcellino Divino
One of the best sandwiches you can try in Spello is at Porcellino Divino. They are famous for their porchetta sandwiches, which are stacked with juicy, roasted pork. This place is super popular and busy, but worth the wait!
7. Check out the Flower Pot Stairwell
One of the prettiest little corners in Spello is the La scalinata in fiore, or “staircase in bloom.” It’s a narrow stone staircase completely covered in flower pots decorated with artwork. Massimiliano Bard is the artist of this permanent installation. It’s become one of the most photographed spots in town.
8. See the panoramic views at Chiesa di San Severino
Chiesa di San Severino is a historic church located in Spello, Umbria, Italy. The church’s origins date back to the 12th century, and it has undergone several reconstructions over the centuries. The current structure was built in the 17th century, and it is known for its Baroque architectural style. The church is dedicated to Saint Severinus of Noricum, a 5th-century bishop and missionary. It is located in the upper part of Spello, and opposite, you will find beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It’s definitely worth the trek this way.
9. Enjoy dinner in the heart of the city!
I tried Gusto’ Bistrot for dinner and absolutely loved it! The dishes were super fresh. I had the Pappardella with wild boar, and it was amazing!
I’ve also heard good things about Il Molino. There are many really nice restaurants near this one so make your choice and enjoy!
Some other place I stumbled upon was a beautiful courtyard restaraunt with a view.
10. See Mosaics at Villa Mosaici
One of the best things to do in Spello is to visit Villa dei Mosaici. It’s an ancient Roman villa that was discovered by accident and beautifully preserved. You can still see the intricate mosaics that once decorated the floors of a wealthy Roman home. The colors and details are incredible, and the interactive displays help bring the history to life.
Day Trips from Spello
Assisi
Assisi makes a great day trip. It’s only a 10-minute train ride from Spello. This beautiful town in Umbria is known for Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy. Dominating the town is the Basilica of San Francesco. It’s a major pilgrimage site, drawing thousands of visitors. It’s insanely busy for this reason. I was able to wander some of the quieter streets, catching the sunset with the Umbrian countryside in the backdrop, however.
Perugia
Just a short 40-minute train ride or drive from Spello, Perugia makes for the perfect day trip. It’s the capital of Umbria, so it’s a bit livelier and full of amazing views. You can wander through medieval streets, grab a coffee in Piazza IV Novembre, and take in the stunning architecture of the Palazzo dei Priori. I loved how it still felt authentic and local, despite being a university town. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, Perugia is home to Perugina chocolate – yes, the famous Baci chocolates come from here!
If you’re looking for even more places to explore in Umbria, be sure to read my full guide on the best towns in Umbria.
You may also like these posts:
The Best Towns in Umbria
Most Beautiful Hotels in Umbria, Italy
Browse my Italy Section
