The Trasimeno Lake
and its surroundings
The landscape surrounding the Trasimeno is one of the sweetest
and suggestive of Umbria. On the hills covered by olive
trees we find antique villages, towers, secular churches,
fortresses. 
Passignano sul Trasimeno is a medieval village which is
still preserving part of its walls and towers. In addition
to the church of St. Christopher with frescoes from the
15th century, on its territory we find, among others, the
sanctuary of the Madonna
dell’Oliveto and the beautiful churches of St. Donato
and S. Vito on the hills going towards Magione. Castel Rigone
is a village of medieval origins located 653 metres above
the sea level, in a dominating position above a large landscape
including the lake. Are present a lot of buildings from
the 13th and 14th century, among which the church of Madonna
SS.ma of the Miracles, built on the place where the Madonna
appeared, which has a Latin Cross map with a final apse
and it is one of the most beautiful church of the Umbrian
Renaissance. In the surroundings Tuoro, in the valley of
Sanguineto, took place the famous battle between the Romans
and the Carthaginians of Hannibal. If you want to plunge
in the fascination and impetuosity of such era, you can
go through the suggestive way of Hannibal and stay at the
FATTORIA
DEL RIO DI SOPRA, antique villa in 17th century rock,
surrounded by splendid olive trees, cypresses and laurels:
here you will appreciate history, nature and gastronomic
suggestions, with the tasting of the wine and oil coming
from the territory. Between Tuoro and Passignano, in a very
suggestive landscape, we find the Villa of the Pischiello.
The complex was built in the 18th century by Uguccione Bourbon
di Sorbello in a beautiful position on a small hill at the
basis of the high hills. The villa, considered specially
during the 19th century as one of the most beautiful Umbrian
residences, is linked to the lake through an historic pathway
of cypresses of three kilometres, element dominating the
landscape. Still in the surroundings, above Vernazzano,
we must point out the famous Tower ‘cake’.
Castiglione
del lago is located on a promontory dominating the occidental
part of the lake. Its profile is characterised by the Fortress
of the Lion, a nice example of military medieval architecture.
The most important building of the village is the Palazzo
Della Corgna with frescoes of Pomarancio.
Città della Pieve, located on a hill along the border
with Tuscany and famous for having seen the birth of Pietro
Vannucci called the Perugino, preserves important works
of the great painter. The country house MADONNA
DELLE GRAZIE is located in a panoramic position and
it is central to visit the cities of art; moreover, it offers
in its restaurant the most authentic dishes of the true
Umbrian cooking.
Paciano and Panicale, marvellous villages dominating the
lake and offering a large view towards the Valdichiana valley
and Tuscany, have a secular history. To be visited: the
palazzo of the Podestà in Panicale, native land of
the painter Masolino. The characteristic of the village
is the three squares located on three different levels.
Piegaro is famous, among others, for the history of its
glaziery founded by handicraft men coming from Venice, the
same ones who realised important works for the cathedral
of Orvieto and the court of the Montefeltro. Mongiovino
the first inhabited village is dating back to the Romans
who built a temple dedicated to Giove. Then it became famous
for the well known mariano sanctuary.
Magione, the antique Pian del Carpine, is structured around
an hospital of the Cavaliers of San Giovanni where an assistance
and recovery was given to the pilgrims and to the travellers.
Still nowadays the beautiful castle of the Cavaliers of
Malta is one of the buildings characterising the city.
In this territory extremely suggestive we find Montecolognola,
dominating the lake and on the other shore the small villages
of Soccorso, Antria, Villa, Collesanto, Caligiana, Borgo
Giglione, each one of them with its nice church, its histories,
fairs and traditions.
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