Description of the attraction
Lake Trasimeno, located in Umbria, is one of the largest in Italy - its surface area is 128 sq. Km. The average depth is about 4 meters, the width reaches 15.5 km. Not a single large river flows into the Trasimeno, just as none of it flows out - the water level depends on the rains.
Three million years ago, a shallow sea splashed on the site of the present lake, and then, as a result of geological processes, it turned into Trasimeno with its modern forms. Historically, the lake was known as Lake Perugia and has always played an important role in the lives of the inhabitants of northwestern Umbria as well as Tuscany. By the way, the first inhabitants of these places were the Etruscans: the three main cities of this mysterious ancient civilization - Perugia, Chiusi and Cortona - are located within 20 km from Trasimeno. Unfortunately, practically nothing has survived from those times. Only in the small coastal town of Castiglione del Lago can you see ancient Roman ruins, and its streets are structured in the typical Roman checkerboard style.
Today, agritourism is undergoing rapid development on the shores of this shallow lake with turbid water and rich aqua fauna. Summer is very hot and humid, but in general the local climate is warm enough, and winters are moderate (the coldest winter happened in 1929, when the entire surface of the lake froze over). You can swim from May to September.
Once on the banks of the Trasimeno, mosquitoes flourished - carriers of malaria. To combat them, some species of fish that feed on mosquito larvae were brought from the United States in the 1950s, and since then the situation in the region has improved significantly. True, in the summer months, the lake is still full of both mosquitoes and other insects. At the same time, the water in Trasimeno is quite clean - this is the result of the absence of large farms on its banks and the relatively low population density.
In 1995, the entire territory of the lake was included in the nature park, and in 2003 a 50-kilometer cycle path was laid along its shores. In addition, there are several cross-country hiking trails, especially in the hills on the eastern side of the lake. Picturesque olive and grape groves attract thousands of tourists here.
The main local towns are Passignano sul Trasimeno, Tuoro, Monte del Lago, Torricella, San Felicano, San Arcangelo, Castiglione del Lago and Borghetto. Each of them has its own characteristics: for example, Castiglione del Lago has the longest coastline, and Monte del Lago was once just a small fortress. No less interesting are the islands located on the lake - Isola Polvese, Isola Maggiore and Isola Minore. The first one is the largest - its area is 1 sq. Km. And the only inhabited island is Isola Maggiore with its small 14th century fishing village. Here is the castle of Castello Guglielmi, built in the 19th century on the foundations of an old Franciscan monastery. Today it is under reconstruction. On Isola Minor, the ruins of an ancient castle, church and monastery are perfectly preserved, despite the fact that this place has been abandoned since the 17th century due to constant epidemics of malaria.
Another castle rises between the towns of Monte del Lago and San Felicano - Castello Zocco. This is one of the largest buildings in the vicinity of Trasimeno and the only castle on the territory of which a medieval tower has been preserved. A few years ago, people lived in the castle, but today it is uninhabited.
Another interesting attraction of Trasimeno is the Leaning Tower of Vernazzano, which is about 20 meters high and looks like the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was once part of an old castle built in the 11th century. At the end of the 15th century, the castle and settlement of Vernazzano was seriously damaged as a result of local military conflicts, and two centuries later - from an earthquake. The tower itself was abandoned for 300 years. And only recently, to avoid its fall, the structure was reinforced with iron reinforcement.
Description added:
mikhail 12.06.2012
Lake Trasimene is also known for the fact that during the second Punic War in 217 BC, on its northern shore, where Tuoro and Passignano are now located, one of the largest defeats of the Roman army by the Carthaginian commander Hannibal took place …
Show full text Lake Trasimene is also known for the fact that during the second Punic War in 217 BC, on its northern shore, where Tuoro and Passignano are now located, one of the largest defeats of the Roman army by the Carthaginian commander Hannibal took place … Roman legion …
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