National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto
Set in the suggestive rooms of the Rocca Albornoziana—the 14th century imposing fortress desired by Pope Innocent VI to reestablish the papal authority in these central Italian territories, part of the Papal State—the National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto was inaugurated in 2007, after the complete recovery and restoration of the entire monumental complex of the Rocca—meaning literally “rock” or high stronghold—that lasted for approximately twenty years. The entire exhibition has the purpose of showing the visitor the complexity of the ins and outs of the historical events, starting from the first half of the 4th century A.D., and the substantial cultural unity of this vast area of central Italy, known for centuries as the Duchy of Spoleto. This end is attained through the presentation and contextualization of objects, figurative texts and explicative instruments, which have the primary function of constantly connecting the museum itinerary with the territorial environment in which this expositive material was produced.
The entire exhibition itinerary is also provided with posters, illustrating the historical function of each room in the exhibition, in such a way that the Museum’s itinerary is perfectly integrated with the itinerary to discover the entire monumental complex of the castle.
The Museum premises occupy fifteen of the historical rooms of the Rocca, and the itinerary is articulated on two levels over the Cortile d’Onore courtyard. Works of art and materials are exhibited following an arch of time going from the 4th century A.D. to the 15th century, and they deal with themes such as: the Christian communities in the surrounding territory, whose 4th-5th centuries archaeological finds come from funerary areas and places of worship; the widespread monasticism phenomena in the area around Spoleto; the social organization of the Longobard Duchy of Spoleto; the period under the Carolingian-Ottonians; the period of the Papal State; the communal period and the 15th century.
Of noticeable relevance is the Longobard section, which presents some of the most precious funerary treasures coming from the necropolis of Nocera Umbra, one of the most important in all the Italian territory. Furthermore, it is possible to admire the floor mosaics and sculptural decorations dating back to the 6th century A.D. and sculptural fragments coming from worship aula from the Lombard and Carolingian-Ottonian period. Included in the expo there is also a rich section dedicated to paintings documenting the Romanic period, and not to be forgotten, some from the 15th century Renaissance period.