Suffice it to say, Io & l’italiano (my course book
for absolute beginners) comes ready with a glossary
in Inglese, Arabo, Cinese, Giapponese e Russo,
so there are pictures, charts, and diagrams galore
to improvise a Lingua franca. Go figure.

Since the folks around here are multilingual
And the sites around here are multigenerational,

There’s never no telling who’s coming or going
And where they might settle down in the process.

Apparently, the bar that closed down on Corso Garibaldi
is replacing (in some new guise) the old one at la stazione,

Which closed last year, when we were still riding the rails
And noticed all the things we passed around in the papers.

Letter-by-letter Google Type leaves enough confusion about each individual word in turn.

Altogether, Mr. Unreliable translates it: “Virgin has created thousands of consecrated martyrs.”

The dates on the exhibit sign are not promising,
But Prorogata turns out to mean Extended.

The universal red sign of warning or prohibition,
On the other hand, is fairly easy to ignore.

“This page has not yet been created,” according to my WikiLink.

Rocca (singular) = fortress; rocce (plural) = fortresses

iana = adjectival ending, I hereby suppose
Since Cardinal Abornoz built many of these fortresses
In 14th century Umbria, as he led Pope Innocent VI’s forces.

Easy to survey the town from here or visit the museum.
More inviting, no doubt, than when it served as a prison.

The history of Spoleto, as if in imitation of the town, has known its ups and downs. Long a site of some importance in ancient times, it eventually gave way to the Papal States and a decline in status.

Well into the 20th century, the pattern held firm. A few ups, but mostly downs along the way. Until after World War II, when Spoleto began to make a name for itself in the arts and culture.

Within the decade of the 50s, three major institutions were founded. The most notable of these, the Festival of the Two Worlds, is held annually starting in late June.

In the final stretch of the ascent to the Rocca, the fortress above town, a series of photographs commemorate some of the highlights from Spoleto’s renowned international event.

When my education is complete, I will return to caption all the pics. (As they stand, when tapped, the crops leave some of the captions legible, I trust.)