Basilica di San Salvatore

A renowned example of Lombard architecture

Built on the Ciciano Hill and within the Spoleto cemetery, the Basilica of San Salvatore was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, as part of the “Longobards in Italy” site. The Basilica is a prime example of Lombard architecture, the original design of which we can admire today thanks to 20th-century restoration work that removed alterations added over the centuries. 

Today, the Basilica is particularly bare of decoration, leaving ample space for splendid architectural marvels, including the imposing Doric and Corinthian columns that surround the presbytery and divide the three naves. Inside the apse, fragments of paintings from different periods have been preserved. Under 16th-century artwork depicting the crucifixion⁠ – the largest and best preserved fresco⁠ – a monogrammed cross remains of the oldest fresco series, next to the depiction of the Madonna and Child with Saint Salvatore, perhaps the most important artistic depiction in the Basilica.

While in the city, don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit another building of great religious interest: the splendid Spoleto Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.