Villa Fidelia Costanzi
Villa Fidelia Costanzi is a historic villa and garden complex near Spello, in the province of Perugia in Umbria. Set on the slopes of Monte Subasio, the villa commands sweeping views over the Umbrian valley and is surrounded by terraced Italian gardens that rank among the finest examples of formal garden design in the region. The complex is now home to the Straka-Coppa Collection, a significant private art collection of 20th-century works.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic villa with terraced gardens and art collection
- Period
- 17th–18th century; gardens of Roman origin
- Style
- Italian formal garden; Baroque villa
- Location
- Near Spello, Province of Perugia, Umbria
- Coordinates
- 42.9993° N, 12.6637° E
Overview
Villa Fidelia Costanzi occupies a privileged position on the Umbrian hillside, set between the ancient Roman and medieval town of Spello and the broad valley below. The villa’s terraced gardens, which incorporate Roman-era structural elements, are considered one of Umbria’s most important examples of historic garden design. Today the complex functions as a cultural venue and museum, housing the Straka-Coppa Collection of 20th-century art alongside temporary exhibitions.
History
The site of Villa Fidelia has ancient roots, with terracing and water management systems that may originate in the Roman period when Spello — known as Hispellum — was a prosperous Roman municipality. The villa itself was developed in its current form during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the Costanzi family undertook significant construction and garden design work. The property subsequently passed through several hands before being acquired and preserved for cultural use.
The gardens underwent restoration in the modern era, with work undertaken to reinstate the historic terracing, water features, and plantings that had deteriorated over time.
What you see
The villa is set within a sequence of terraced gardens descending the hillside, featuring clipped hedges, stone balustrades, fountains, and carefully framed views over the Umbrian valley and the plain toward Foligno and Assisi. The gardens are designed in the Italian formal tradition, with axial paths, geometric planting beds, and a strong architectural character rooted in the management of the sloping terrain. Inside the villa, the Straka-Coppa Collection displays paintings, drawings, and sculptural works by significant Italian and international artists of the 20th century.
Cultural significance
Villa Fidelia Costanzi is listed among the important historic gardens of Italy and represents a rare survival of formal garden culture in Umbria. The combination of historic landscape, archaeological substrata, and a 20th-century art collection makes the villa a site of layered cultural interest, connecting Roman Hispellum, Baroque garden design, and modern Italian art within a single setting.
Practical information
- Address
- Via Flaminia, Spello (PG), Umbria, Italy
- Hours
- Check official website or the Spello tourist office for current visiting hours and seasonal closures
- Admission
- Admission charged; check official website
Getting there
Spello has a railway station on the Foligno–Terontola line, with regular trains from Perugia (approximately 20 minutes) and Foligno (10 minutes). From Spello station, the villa is reachable on foot or by a short taxi ride. By car, Spello is just off the SS75 Centrale Umbra motorway. The villa is signposted from the historic centre of Spello.