In 2002, whilst living in Castiglion Fiorentino in Tuscany, I had the opportunity to do some flying over Lago Trasimeno and its quaint villages, please enjoy the sights of a wonderful part of the world -- compliments of Alessandro Sorbello Productions http://www.alessandrosorbello.com you are listening to the original music of Jaider http://youtube.com/watch?v=E4O7STJFGxA
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The Lake Trasimeno Park, with its 13,200 hectares, is the largest of the six Umbrian Regional Parks. Its administration promoted and realized some projects aiming at protecting and restoring the environment, such as the Scese Project. This project has recovered and rendered functional the ancient roads that give onto the Lake Trasimeno, transforming them in real and proper «windows» that permit one to immerse oneself in a natural environment of exceptional value. There are no industrial plants, and the presence of riviera-type towns and little fishing villages proud of their own traditions and lifestyles which go back in time, make this area a place where water, earth and air are free of contamination, where life flows tranquilly in a natural environment, where animals still stop to drink from the lake water and mix perfectly with the surroundings.
Isola Minore
We have very little historical data for this island, the smallest of the three. It was called "Isoletta" (little island) until the beginning of the twentieth century, and is now part of the territory of Passignano. It is private and uninhabited, although there is a house.
Isola Polvese
Part of the Castiglione del Lago Local Authority, this is the largest of the three islands at 69.60 hectares. It is the property of the Province of Perugia and is intended as a public park. Populated by a large community until the late 1950s, today it is uninhabited. It preserves interesting historical relics such as the Monastery of San Secondo, the Church of San Giuliano and a 14th century castle recently restored. A beautiful villa of recent construction, La Foresteria, and other buildings today host scientific, educational and recreational activities. A very interesting feature is the Garden of Aquatic Plants, created by the Province of Perugia in 1995 with the architectural and functional restoration of the pool which was built in the late 1950s, to the design of the Florentine architect Pietro Porcinai, in the abandoned sandstone quarry. A path for visually handicapped people is in completion, in association with Lega Filo d'Oro di Osimo, and is in the process of getting its environmental certification.
Isola Polvese: Scientific and Educational Park
The Province of Perugia has declared Polvese a "Scientific/Educational Park" devoted to research, experimentation, training and educational activities in the environmental field. However, the Province co-ordinates activities and ensures the quality of the services provided, making available the Service Centre equipped with a Documentation Centre, a computer lab, and environmental and educational labs for schools with appropriate syllabuses according to the school level.
The island is equipped with a residential study centre in the "Villa" (13 rooms with private bath) and in the "Foresteria" (guest quarters) (14 rooms with bath), with 44 beds in total. Restaurant and bar facilities are available in the Villa (seating 60) and there is a self-service restaurant in the "Casa di Delfo" which can serve 150 - 200 at each sitting. The conference room is suitable for hosting seminars of a scientific and educational nature for a limited number of participants (30/40).
At fixed times of the day there are guided tours of the island.
For general enquires concerning environmental education:
The territorial laboratory Ambiente come Alfabeto (Environment as literacy) and the Environmental Education Office of Perugia
Tel. +39 0753681031 - Fax +39 0753681062
e-mail: educazioneambientale@provincia.perugia.it
Isola Polvese Information and Reception Office
Tel. +39 0759659546 - 3478489578 - Fax +39 0755156382
For information about accommodation on the island:
Coop. Aurora Tel. +39 0759659544/5 or +39 075953837 Fax +39 075951003, Hostel Tel. +39 0759659550
Isola Maggiore
Isola Maggiore, the only inhabited island, is situated in the Municipality of Tuoro sul Trasimeno, still preserves its appearance as a 13th Century fishing village. Saint Francis of Assisi came to the island in spiritual retreat during Lent, in 1213. It is still possible to admire the chapel, in which a painting depicts his crossing of Lake Trasimeno during a storm, and the boulder where the saint knelt and prayed.
The tradition of lace-making "Irish Stitch",is the pride of the island. Introduced to the island in 1904 by the Marquise Elena Guglielmi, a skilful and valuable craftwork which is still in practise today by the skilled craftswomen who work along Via Guglielmi, in fascinating framework which goes together well with today's tourism on this wonderful Trasimeno island.
A few years ago a Museum Itinerary was created and is composed of four sites: Lace Museum, which preserves and highlights the best creations of the island; Isola Maggiore Documentation Centre, situated in the Casa del Capitano del Popolo; Church of San Michele Arcangelo and the Church of San Salvatore.
For information: Tel. +39 0758254233, Tel./Fax +39 075953654
Tourism in the Trasimeno district is a relatively recent phenomenon, even though the area was cause for admiration already in the XVIIIth and XlXth centuries for distinguished travellers such as Goethe and Stendhal.
The German writer, on his way to Rome in October 1786, made a halt in Perugia, saw Lake Trasimeno (then more generally known as "Lake of Perugia") and journeyed on to Assisi.
He wrote in his diary: "I left Perugia on a lovely morning, and experienced the joy of being on my own again. The city is in a beautiful position and the view of the lake is truly a delight: those sights are now well engraved in my mind's eye".
The author of "The Red and the Black", instead, crossed the lake by boat in 1828, which had been called "Silver Veil" by the english poet George Byron, and wrote in "Promenades dans Rome": "It takes about four or five days to journey from Florence to Rome, and it costs forty to forty-five francs. I prefer the Perugia route to that of Siena: one has a chance to visit Arezzo, where nothing seems to have changed since Dante's time, moreover, the surroundings of the Lake Trasimeno are of great beauty".
Little has changed since then from a scenic point of view, nor in the "exquisite kindness" of the inhabitants which Stendhal so appreciated.
Only the outskirts of the towns have spread slightly. The rare, but - again in the words of the author of ":The Charterhouse of Parma" - clean inns of the XIXth century have today been replaced by an adequate number of comfortable hotels, camping sites, tourist apartments, restaurants and farm-holiday facilities.
These are generally well managed family concerns, small to medium in size, which enable visitors both to enjoy the comforts of today, and to spend a holiday in an atmosphere of friendly and unobstreperous warmth.
Whether he opts for accommodation within the historic cores, with their intact flavour of the past, or whether he prefers to dwell in the countryside, where the natural beauty can be more intimately enjoyed, the visitor experiences a tranquil form of joy.
Tuoro sul Trasimeno
Permanent Documentation Centre of the Battle of Trasimeno.The Centre, inaugurated in the early months of 1996, brings together a permanent exhibition.
Castiglione del lago
Rocca del Leone (The Lion Fortress). Completed in 1247, probably to the plan of Friar Elia Coppi, it is in the form of a pentagon.
Città della Pieve
Pietro Perugino - "The Adoration of the Magi" (1504).Oratory of Santa Maria dei Bianchi The story is depicted as a large knightly procession.
Paciano
This small Umbrian town, winner of the European Community's "Perfect Village" competition, is a typical medieval village, set in an amphitheatre.
Piegaro
Castello di Cibottola.The small castle is situated a short distance from Pietrafitta.
Panicale
Pietro Perugino "The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian" (1505).Church of St. SebastianThe "Martyrdom" is constructed on the basis of geometric figures.
Magione
Castle of the Knights of Malta. The "Castle of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta" was constructed between 1160 and 1170 as a fortified hospital.
Passignano sul Trasimeno
Church of St. Christopher (X-XI Cent).This is one of the most interesting monuments in Passignano sul Trasimeno.
Author: newrealm06
Keywords: Lago trasimeno Umbria toscana cortona perugia
Added: July 14, 2007
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