Spello (in Antiquity: Hispellum) is an ancient town and comune (township) of Italy, in the province of Perugia in eastern-central Umbria, on the lower southern flank of Monte Subasio. It is 6 km (4 mi) north-northwest of Foligno and 10 km (6 mi) south-southeast of Assisi. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
The old walled town lies on a regularly northwest–southeast sloping ridge that eventually meets the plain. From the top of the ridge, Spello commands a good view of the Umbrian plain towards Perugia; at the bottom of the ridge, the town extends beyond its walls into a small modern section (or borgo), served by the rail line from Rome to Florence via Perugia.
History
Antiquity
No mention of Spello (Hispellum) is found before the Roman Empire.
A well-known rescript of Emperor Constantine the Great, together with the Caesars Constantine and Constans, ordered that the city be called Flavia Costante, that a temple of the Flavia gens be erected there, and that gladiatorial and circus games be instituted. From that period, inscriptions refer to the town as Colonia Urbana Flavia, a wording which, according to the source, led some writers to incorrectly suppose that Spello had received a second colonial foundation under Vespasian.
In the early 13th century Emperor Otto IV, while taking many places from the Church, is said to have shown clemency towards Spello, which in that century was a loyal ally of Perugia. In 1289 the city again asked to be received under Perugian protection and to be sent a new podestà chosen by Perugia’s council; Perugia complied by sending Porticcio di Porta Borgne. In 1298 the people of Spello appealed to Perugia for help against the vicar of the Duke of Spoleto, then Bertoldo Orsini, who had proclaimed war against Spello, claiming it was subject to the duchy, whereas Spello had placed itself under Perugian protection. Perugia sent ambassadors to Spoleto and, together with Nocera, repeatedly sent envoys to Rome asking the pope to intervene to settle the dispute.
Among Spello's features are thirteen caves of uncertain but ancient date, opening on the slope of the hill on which the town stands, on the north and west sides. One of these caves communicates with the highest point of the hill, where the seat of the ancient acropolis is suggested to have been located.
In 2021, 2,429 people lived in rural dispersed dwellings not assigned to any named locality.
Religion
San Lorenzo
thumb|The façade of Church of San Lorenzo, showing its stratified masonry and prominent rose window
The church of San Lorenzo is one of Spello's two collegiate churches. It was consecrated in 1228 by Gregory IX, and it was believed to have been built over the remains of a temple of Apollo. These paintings are counted among the master's major works.