Spittal an der Drau - an old Austrian city located on the banks of the Drava River in the western part of the federal state of Carinthia. It is the administrative center of the district Spittal.

The first documented mention of the settlement refers to Spittal 1191 .  In the act of Archbishop Adalbert says the construction of the hospital with a chapel next to the ancient road .  Construction was started on the orders of Otto II .  Gradually, the hospital appeared around the village, which received market rights in 1242 .  In 1418, these territories have departed Count Hermann of Celje .  In 1478, local land were devastated by the Turkish wars, and later were occupied by Hungarian troops and long-time rival the Emperor Frederick - King Matthias Corvinus .  There was a series of peasant revolts and fires in Spittal reigned oppressive atmosphere .  The situation changed in 1524, when the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand I ordered local land his treasurer Gabriel von Salamanca .  In 1533 Salamanca built on the main square of Spittal his residence - palazzo Portia, which is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Austria Renaissance .  Hospital has been restored, and the Catholic parish church of the Annunciation of Mary, made in the late Gothic style .

In 1797 Spittal was besieged by French troops, and in 1809 went to the French Illyrian provinces under the contract Schönbrunn. In the Austrian Empire Spittal back in 1815, then began its economic recovery, which greatly contributed to the emergence of rail traffic.

Today, the palace meals every year a festival of theatrical comedy and part palazzo given by museum. In addition, in Spittal can see the largest private model railway. Himself Spittal an der Drau is a member of the small historic towns.

5 km to the northwest of Spittal are the ruins of the early Christian church and the museum, which houses a collection of coins and inscriptions during their stay here Celtic peoples and Romans.