"Historic and lively, Charleston has been transformed into one of America's most delightful cities." -- Condé Nast Traveler

With its long and rich history of culture, its natural beauty and the inspiration it has provided to artists over the years, Charleston, South Carolina, is perhaps the most appropriate place in the United States to stage a festival that celebrates the arts.

Charleston claims many cultural firsts. The very first performance of an opera in the American colonies took place in the city during the first half of the 18th century. While the English Ballad opera Flora or Hob in the Well is no longer performed, Porgy and Bess – which has often been called the greatest American opera – was written in Charleston some two hundred years later. By the end of 18th century, the southern city boasted the first resident ballet company in addition to regular performances by English and French-language theater companies. The first theater built specifically for public performances in the American colonies, the Dock Street Theatre, was built in Charleston in 1734. (The original theater burned down two years later and was eventually rebuilt.) Over the next two hundred and fifty years, many other theaters said to rival the best in Europe were built in Charleston. Today, Charleston is a city of well-preserved stately homes, lofty churches and numerous historical sites. Theaters are within walking distance from one another, and a stroll is often rewarded with the glimpse of a lavish garden or of a previously unnoticed architectural detail. Award-winning restaurants and boutique shops add to the city’s eclectic character.

Twenty minutes from historic downtown glorious beaches await at Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, and Folly Beach, where Gershwin is said to have composed the music for Porgy and Bess.

So what are you waiting for? Come to Spoleto Festival USA and explore the best in opera, dance, theater and music, as well as all the sights and sounds Charleston has to offer.

For more information on Charleston, please visit:
The Charleston Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
The Charleston Museum
Middleton Place Plantation
Historic Charleston’s Religious & Community Buildings
City of Isle of Palms
Magnolia Plantation
Drayton Hall