In 1958, composer Gian Carlo Menotti chose Spoleto for the first Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds),a gathering of artists, performers, and musicians intended to bring together the "new" and "old" worlds of America and Europe. (A corresponding festival in South Carolina is no longer connected to this festival.) The annual event, held in late June to early July, is one of the most important cultural happenings in Europe, attracting big names in all branches of the arts, particularly music, opera, and theater. With so much activity, the small town gives itself over entirely to the festival -- events are staged in every possible venue, from church cloisters to massive theaters. The closing concert, always free, takes place on the Piazza del Duomo.

You will notice the changes brought by the festival, as Spoleto has become one of the more cosmopolitan towns in the region. Undoubtedly you will see traces of past festivals: old promotional posters hung in virtually all the shops and hotels, and modern sculptures left to the city in its art gallery and on permanent display outdoors. These include Alexander Calder's enormous bronze Teodelapio sculpture in front of the train station, Anna Mahler's Sitting in Piazza della Signoria, and Geodesic Dome by Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) in the Parco della Passeggiata. Tickets for all performances should be ordered in advance. Full program information is available beginning in February.