We are going to Umbria Fall 2025 dor 2-3 weeks. We initially wanted to home base in Spello but then we learned it was very steep so then we thought maybe Montefalco or Foligno. We just weren't sure about the steep hills in Spello. We are both in our 60's (youthful 60's). So now we're back to staying in Spello. We figured if we can find a place with parking that would possibly solve the problem. I've wanted to stay at Spello from the beginning because I've heard it's so beautiful.
So basically I'd like to get any comments about the steepness and any recommendations for accommodations. We don't do fancy so anyplace simple. We would like a kitchen if possible and a balcony would be nice.
Thank you.
Posted by
Miami
329 posts
I was there for about 6 hours last month as a day trip from Perugia. It's a pretty hilly town but the hills really didn't bother me. I think Spello is hillier than Perugia and Spoleto. Harder to compare with Assisi because I went to Assisi last year, but I think Assisi is hillier than Spello. Per my iPhone, I climbed about 55 floors in the 6 hours in Spello. For reference, I'm 57.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2213 posts
My husband and I spent a week in Spello when we were 70-ish. We stayed about halfway between the lowest and highest points in town and did not have a car. I'm not sure how a place with parking would help. You might find one at the bottom or top of town, but it seems to me that you'd still need to walk up and/or down to enjoy the rest of the town. Top and bottom are not the most interesting parts, in my opinion.
I haven't been to Montefalco but did like Foligno. However, if you want to visit Spello from another town, you run into the same problem of walking uphill when you get there!
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
2 posts
We were thinking if the place we stay has free parking we'd be able to drive up to our place and then drive down when we left town. I know there will still be hills in town. Where did you stay in Spello? Did you like Foligno? It's quite a bit larger than the other small towns around it. Did you go to Bevagna? If so, did you like it?
Thank you.
Posted by
CA, USA
1163 posts
We stayed in Spello for a few days about 12 years back. It's a nice town but quite steep and we found it a bit small. Our hotel came with parking but it was such a tight squeeze we literally had to get the hotel owner to park the car in the garage under his building because we didn't think we could do it without scraping something (and we had a tiny rental car). On the other hand some people love it, such as the author Michelle Damiani who spent a year there and wrote a book about her stay. Her website is https://michelledamiani.com/travel-in-italy
On a different trip we used Perugia as a home base, again several years back, and thought it was a better choice. There were free lots below town on the hillside although the top itself is a ZTL I believe. It's larger than Spello so more restaurants, and the top is flat. It's an alternative you might want to consider.
Posted by
62 posts
We used Spello as a base about seven years ago. It is a hill, we stayed at the top of it. This wasn't a problem for us but we are younger than you, fit and accustomed to hills. We liked the restaurants in Bevagna better, so went there for lunch and dinner a few times. Bevagna is a charming town and pancake flat.
We have also stayed in Assisi a few times and liked that too, but again, hilly. It's touristy during the day and on the main drag, but in t he evenings and on the quieter streets, extremely beautiful and to me more interesting that Spello. Spello was too small for me.
I don't think having a parking space will minimize any hill walking in Spello. It's not like you will drive around the (tiny) town to sightsee.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2213 posts
Answers: We did not go to Bevagna, but we did like Foligno. The latter does not have the "small-town charm" of Spello, but we found a wonderful lunch place there.
In Spello, we stayed in a rental apartment on Via Maddalena, just downhill from the main church in town, Santa Maria Maggiore (I think). I'm not having much luck bringing the apartment up online, but I'm sure there's no parking near there!