The Trasimeno lake
and its surroundings
A trip in the Umbria of the taste and of the flavours can
start by the Trasimeno lake, from this extraordinary environment
made of waters and sweet hills. The relief surrounding the
lake are morbid and luminous, spread of antique villages,
vineyards and olive trees. The vineyards have here some
deep roots and they have been able to renovate themselves
in the last years, creating some excellent wines, reds as
well as whites, in the framework of the DOC Hills of the
Trasimeno. 
If
you want to taste them in a warm and welcoming environment,
the FATTORIA
DEL RIO DI SOPRA is waiting for you, where you can taste
wines and olive oil. The quality of the fields, the excellent
exhibition of the suggestive slopes of a territory without
great ruggedness, the optimal micro climate favoured by
the lake, have from remote times accompanied the man in
the cultivation of the grapes and of the olive. In this
part of Umbria is produced a light and flavoured extra virgin
olive oil, with a delicate aroma that only the climate of
the lake can give. If you want to taste a noble and pure
extra virgin olive oil, winner of the prestigious prize
Ercole Oleario 2001, you can go to the AZIENDA
AGRICOLA TORALE, located in an antique 18th century
village dominating the splendid landscape of the Trasimeno
Lake; here, in addition to the tasting, you can also visit
the firm oil press. This extra virgin olive oil is excellent
to taste, as it is the tradition, on the various “bruschette”
(slices of toasted bread), or on dishes coming from the
rich tradition of these areas.
Famous and defended with pride, it is definitely worth to
remember the “fagiolina” of the Lake, a small
vegetable needing great care and attentions during the cultivation,
very tasty and particular, picked here from the time of
the Etruscan. In addition to the “fagiolina”
of the lake, there are some other characteristic vegetables,
such as the barley, the vegetables and the chickpeas.
This is the land of fishers of sweet waters, but above all
of farmers and hunters. So you can taste excellent roasted
meats of the domestic goose, of pigeons, of lamb, of rabbit
but also of wild boars present in all the surrounding maquis.
What do you think about a stop at the Restaurant LE
DUE VALLI, in the country house MADONNA
DELLE GRAZIE? Here the roasted meat and the meat over
the embers is cooked with maestro, thanks to the capacity
of Mrs. Maria and t the great quality of the local cattle.
)