Italy – Ultimate paradise for sports, art, food and wine
Lake Trasimeno is a true natural paradise in the northern part of Umbria on the border with Tuscany. It is the fourth largest lake in Italy and was named after the ancient legend of prince Trasimeno and his love for nymph Agylle. Lord Byron compared it to a “silver veil” and, over the centuries, the lake has charmed many poets, painters and travellers.
It became a Regional Park in 1995 and is characterised by a marshy area where, among lush reeds, you can spot wild ducks, cormorants, kites and kingfishers. The lake has in fact always been an important area where aquatic birdlife can stop, breed and spend the winter, and it is also the perfect habitat for fish species to reproduce.
To learn more about the history of this wildlife and discover the secrets of the fishermen and their tools we suggest visiting the San Feliciano Fishing Museum. If you are interested in the boats that fishermen used going back to medieval times you can pay a visit to the Boat museum in Passignano. If you are a history enthusiast, plan your holiday following in the footsteps of Hannibal’s battle of Lake Trasimeno. If you wish to practice open-air sports you are spoilt for choice – there are bike and horse trails and you can enjoy acquatic sports such as kitesurfing, canoeing and sailing.
Any time is perfect to be charmed by one of the towns that surround Trasimeno: Castiglione del Lago, Paciano, Panicale, Piegaro, Città della Pieve, Magione, Passignano sul Trasimeno, Lisciano Niccone and Tuoro sul Trasimeno are either directly on the lakeside or overlook it from the hills. Enjoy a trip to the Maggiore and Polvese islands, which can be easily reached by boat the whole year round.
If you like good food, you can savour excellent freshwater fish dishes – eel, perch and tench in particular – and try Fagiolina del Trasimeno, Slow Food Presidium, and Saffron from Città della Pieve. Among the typical local products there is also olive oil and wine, which you can enjoy along the Strada dei vini dei Colli del Trasimeno (Wine Route of the Trasimeno Hills) The Trasimeno area is famous for the Irish lace of Isola Maggiore, Panicale’s Tulle creations and the art of weaving baskets with lake reed.
