What do the Holy City + Spoleto, Italy have in common? The two might seem completely unrelated, but they are actually sister cities.

The goal of a sister city is to cultivate international relationships while having the opportunity to explore different cultures + stimulate economic development. Spoleto became Charleton’s sister city in 2008 + the two cities shares a major festival.

The Festival of Two Worlds, founded in 1958 by Gian Carlo Menotti, is an annual summer event held in Spoleto. Its “sister event,” the American counterpart Spoleto Festival USA, takes place in Charleston. Established in 1977, it is named in tribute to the original festival’s location.

Charleston was selected by founders Menotti, Christopher Keene + others due to its historic charm, and wealth of theaters, churches + performance spaces. They believed Charleston embodied the spirit of Spoleto, making it the perfect American home for the festival.

Charleston’s other sister city
Spoleto isn’t Charleston’s only international connection — Panama City, Panama, became a sister city in 2016.