Lake Trasimeno.

With a surface area of 128 square kms. and a circumference of 45 kms., Lake Trasimeno is the largest lake in central and southern Italy and the fourth-largest in the whole country. Of tectonic origin, it has a laminar structure and the maximum depth is about 6 metres. The lake is fed by a few rivers, small streams and canals and has only one, artificial, outlet constructed at the end of the nineteenth century to solve the problem of regular flooding. It has three islands rising from its waters: Minore, Maggiore and Polvese, which are reached from the main coastal towns by the boats of the “Servizio Provinciale di Navigazione del Trasimeno”.

Isola Minore.

We have very little historical data for this island, the smallest of the three. It was called “Isoletta” (little island) until the beginning of the twentieth century, and is now part of the territory of Passignano. It is private and deserted.

Isola Maggiore.
It is situated in the communal territory of Tuoro, from which it is possible to leave by ferry for a visit, and it is the only inhabited island of the Lake Trasimeno. It preserves up to now the quaint aspect of the fifteenth - century village, founded by fishers; perhaps it is also for this reason that every year it is the destination of thousands of visitors in search of natural and uncontaminated places. In 1213 Saint Francesco of Assisi went there in hermitage on the occasion of Lent; it is possible to see the chapel that recalls the lending, after the crossing of the stormy Lake Trasimeno and the rock where he stopped to pray. The lace of Isola (or Irish stitch), a handicraft working taught by an Irish teacher who was called specially on the island by the Marchesa Elena Guglielmi in 1904, is, with fishing and tourism, the basis of the 40 families’ economy that live there.

Isola Polvese.
The island is situated in the communal territory of Castiglione del Lago and is the largest of the three at 69,60 hectares. It is owned by the Province of Perugia and is a public park. Until the l950s the island was home to a large community but it is now deserted. It has several interesting historical monuments, such as the Monastery of Saint Secondo, the Church of Saint Julian and a fourteenth century castle. A recently-built villa, with guest quarters and other buildings is now a centre for scientific, educational and recreational activities. Among the most recent interesting developments, the Garden of Aquatic Plants is notable. This is an architecturally pleasing but functional project carried out by the Province of Perugia in 1995. Its aim was to revive the pool designed in 1959/60 by the Roman architect Pietro Porcinai. By rehabilitating an abandoned sandstone quarry, a large pool has been created, carved entirely from the solid rock and surrounded by smaller pools called “ninfei” (from “water nymph”). These pools contain a rich cross-section of aquatic plants, marvellously preserved. The area can be visited in the company of a member of the Park staff.

It has been opened the “Bottega della qualità” run by the “Molino Popolare del Trasimeno”, with the sale of typical products from Isola Polvese and the Trasimeno Area. It is possible to visit the fully restored Castle.