You live and learn...in Spoleto!

Yesterday, for the first time, I visited Spoleto. The medieval citadel, at the foot of Colle Sant’Elia, particularly fascinated me. There were few tourists: the relative tranquility allowed me to breathe in the history that is told in every corner of the city.

As I walked, I found myself at a loss for words in front of the wonders I discovered with every step: Romanesque churches within magnificent cloisters; palaces that incorporate styles from numerous centuries and could fill countless books on architecture; remains from the Roman era, some perfectly preserved, like the theater.

Umbria has been a crossroads of peoples and armies: the Arch of Drusus and Germanicus, built in the 1st century AD, stands as a witness to this. It has seen a succession of all kinds of human beings: popes, princes, legionaries, wealthy merchants, and simple peasants. And I am the last in this endless line of humans to have passed under the arch.

After a wonderful lunch featuring local specialties, I retraced my steps to return to the parking lot (the escalators that take you from the parking areas to the historic center in just a few minutes are truly fantastic!). Upon reaching the staircase leading to Piazza del Duomo, I felt a nagging discomfort: something didn’t seem right to my eyes. Having stopped halfway down the stairs, I carefully scrutinized the scene before me.

The Dome

Here’s what didn’t add up: the projection of the Cathedral did not align with that of the stairs! Just a few degrees of difference, but enough to create a sense of disorientation.

It's interesting to note how the brain works: it seeks order and linearity, not only in architecture but also in life in general. It builds routines that are predictable to minimize effort. In the past, I fully adhered to this pattern, but any deviation caused me great anxiety.

I still didn’t understand that reality is quite different: things go where and how they want, ignoring our longing for order. I can only react to what I encounter on my path. Is it exhausting? Yes, it is. But it's the only way I can evolve as a person.

You live and le

You live and learn...in Spoleto!