Tour
"Il Trasimeno without secrets"
From Podere Grotta Antica, a tour takes you to the shores of Lake Trasimeno, a place suspended between water, history, and legends. Here, the landscape changes color with the sky, villages are reflected in the calm waters, and islands seem to float like hidden jewels.
The first stop is Castiglione del Lago, a village that overlooks the lake majestically from its promontory. Its Rocca del Leone, built by the Perugians in the 13th century, has an irregular pentagonal shape reminiscent of a star, with mighty towers reflected in the water. Climbing up onto the walls, the view opens up over the whole of Lake Trasimeno and its islands. Strolling through the center means immersing yourself in a lively village, where you can breathe in an authentic atmosphere among artisan shops and cafés.
Continuing along the shores, you arrive at Passignano sul Trasimeno, a charming village with a lakeside promenade ideal for a leisurely stroll, perhaps enjoying an ice cream as the sun sets. Here, history intertwines with legend: it was in fact near Passignano that, in 217 BC, the Carthaginian general Hannibal ambushed the Romans, going down in history with one of the most famous battles of antiquity. Today, the area is a place of peace, but the waters still seem to hold the memory of that epic event.
Ferries depart from Castiglione and Passignano, allowing visitors to experience the lake from a unique perspective. There are three islands in Lake Trasimeno, each with its own distinct personality:
Isola Maggiore: the most evocative, with its stone houses and boats pulled ashore along the shore. Here St. Francis of Assisi retired in prayer during Lent in 1211, and even today the island retains a mystical and timeless atmosphere.
Isola Polvese: the largest, now a nature park. It offers trails through greenery, the remains of a medieval fortress, and panoramic viewpoints from which the lake seems endless.
Isola Minore: lThe smallest and most private, not open to visitors, but always fascinating to observe while sailing.
The tour is not just about villages and islands: along the shores you will find trattorias and small restaurants where you can enjoy local specialties such as tegamaccio, a typical fish soup from the lake, or simply a glass of Umbrian white wine to sip while watching the sunset.
A journey that combines ancient history, Franciscan spirituality, unspoiled nature, and simple pleasures: Trasimeno is a small treasure chest that holds many different worlds in one.
Trasimeno is not just a lake: it is a world made up of villages, calm waters, and stories that have been intertwined for millennia. When you visit, you will discover that every shore, every island, and every sunset has a secret to tell. When you return to Podere Grotta Antica, you will take with you the memory of a place that enchants with its simplicity and timeless magic.