Lake Trasimeno excursion
Lake Trasimeno is one of the largest in Italy with a surface area of 128 square kilometres. The average depth is about 4 metres and its width reaches 15.5 km. No major rivers flow into Trasimeno, nor do any of them flow out of it – the water level depends on rainfall.
Three million years ago, there was a shallow sea on the site of the present lake, and then, as a result of geological processes, it became Trasimeno with its present forms.
Historically, the lake was known as Lake Perugia and it has always played an important role in the life of the inhabitants of north-western Umbria as well as Tuscany. Incidentally, the first inhabitants of this area were the Etruscans: the three main towns of this mysterious ancient civilisation – Perugia, Chiusi and Cortona – are located within 20 km of Trasimeno.
Unfortunately, little has survived from those times. Only in the small coastal town of Castiglione del Lago can ancient Roman ruins be seen, and its streets are structured in the characteristic Roman chessboard style.
The main local towns are Passignano sul Trasimeno, Tuoro, Monte del Lago, Torricella, San Feliciano, San Arcangelo, Castiglione del Lago and Borghetto.
Each has its own special features: for example, Castiglione del Lago has the longest coastline and Monte del Lago was once just a small fortress.
The islands on the lake are no less interesting: Isola Polvese, Isola Maggiore and Isola Minore.
The first is the largest – it has an area of 1 square kilometre. And the only inhabited island is Isola Maggiore, with its small 14th-century fishing village.
There is also the Castello Guglielmi castle, built in the XIX century on the foundations of an ancient Franciscan monastery. Today it is under renovation. The ruins of the old castle, church and monastery are perfectly preserved on Isola Minora, despite the fact that the place has been abandoned since the 17th century due to constant malaria epidemics.
Another castle, Castello Zocco, stands between the towns of Monte del Lago and San Feliciano. It is one of the largest buildings in the neighbourhood of Trasimeno and the only castle with a medieval tower still standing. Until a few years ago the castle was inhabited by people, but today it is uninhabited.
Another interesting attraction in Trasimeno is the falling tower of Vernazzano, about 20 metres high and similar to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was once part of an ancient castle built in the 11th century. At the end of the 15th century, the castle and the settlement of Vernazzano were seriously damaged by localised military conflicts, and two centuries later by an earthquake. The tower itself was abandoned for 300 years. Only recently, in order to avoid its collapse, the structure was reinforced with iron rebar.
