Trasimeno Lake offers the opportunity to spend some days in the islands, full of nature and relax. Isola Maggiore and Isola Polvese are in fact beautiful islands that you can visit and that offer picturesque scenery and rich vegetation. There is the possibility of beautiful walks both in their scope and in the central areas. Both islands have equipped facilities, visitors can enjoy the small beaches to sunbathe and swim.
The ferry service is timely and provides hiking opportunities every time, both outbound and return flights.
ISOLA MAGGIORE
Isola Maggiore, in the municipality of Tuoro sul Trasimeno, is the only of the three islands to be inhabited again. The island has an area of 24 hectares, it is relatively small, despite its name, the largest of the three islands of Trasimeno Lake is Isola Polvese. The settlement, consisting of 18 people, is located in the western part of the island, stretching from the pier to Via Guglielmi, the main street.
The distinctive appearance of the island still retains the feel of the fishing village of ‘400. In past centuries it was fishing the main source of livelihood of the island. To date, tourism and related activities, such as recreation, bathing and the sale of souvenirs, are the main source of income.
Coming down from the ferry we arrive at a small square, from here going to the right in direction of Via dei 3 Martiri you can get to the windmill, while going up to Via San Michele Arcangelo arrives at the Church of the same name, on the top of the island. If you head left, instead, you can take Via Guglielmi and along lake. Even today you can see the chapel that recalls the landing of San Francesco, when in 1211 he went into hermitage to Isola Maggiore for Lent, and the rock where the saint stopped to pray.
To visit is the Lace Museum, because tradition of lace crochet worked in “point of Ireland” is characteristic of Isola Maggiore, the Church of S. Salvatore characterized by a stone portal with carved reliefs, Palazzo del Capitano, the summer residence of the notables who held the post of Captain of the People and the Palazzetto Medievale, dating back to the thirteenth century, located on the main street and is a testimony of medieval civil architecture.
On the Isola Maggiore are food service where you can enjoy delicious dishes based on fish lake.
ISOLA POLVESE
Isola Polvese in the municipality of Castiglione del Lago, is located in the south-east of Trasimeno Lake. With its 70 hectares it is the largest of the three islands of Trasimeno Lake. The island is of particular interest from the point of view of nature, for the presence of high trunk holm and for very extensive reeds and an olive grove from which is derived organic olive oil. It is also interesting from the point of view of art and culture, because the island retains significant historical memories like the Church of S. Secondo, the Monastero Olivetano, the Church of S. Giuliano and a recently restored medieval castle.
Coming down from the ferry you can admire the great Villa, the old building, built about 200 years ago, it is composed of several structures, such as the mill, the farmhouse and storage farm tools. These structures have been recovered, and today represent the Service Center and Living Room, with scientific laboratories and environmental classrooms and conferences. At left is the implantation of Phytoremediation, the island is in fact an example of environmental management based on sustainability criteria thanks to this system, the energy saving systems and organic farming. A few steps there is the castle dating from the thirteenth century, you can admire the medieval walls and the interior courtyard, used as open-air theater. The path to the left of the castle, leading to the pool of Porcinai, a garden of aquatic plants, built at the end of the fifties on a project of the landscape architect Pietro Porcinai. The first on the right you reach the hostel, if you go up on the balcony you can see the whole island. We then come to the Monastero dei Monaci Olivetani with the Church of San Secondo, of which only the crypt, the apse, some parts of the walls and the facade. If you exceed the dense forest that is on the right leads at the beach where there is a playground and volleyball courts. Finally we come back to the Villa, where you can find the bar and the typical restaurant.
Isola Polvese is used as Scientific and Educational Park for education and environmental tourism and as Territorial Laboratory for sustainable development, for research and experimentation. You can participate in educational courses that provide a direct interaction with the surrounding environment through moments of games, working in the field and laboratory.
Services available to Isola Polvese:
beaches and water bathing
huge manicured green spaces
food service and bars
public toilets
restaurant
villa and foresteria
daily ferries
soccer field
museum and Science Park
routes and Trails tracked
areas of shadow public