Top Things to do in Lake Trasimeno
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Top 9 Nature & Parks in Lake Trasimeno, Umbria
Discover the best top things to do in Lake Trasimeno, Italy including La Valle - Naturalistic Oasis, Isola Polvese, Pescatore Cafe, Zocco Beach, La Via del Trasimeno, Sualzo Beach, Pista Ciclabile del Trasimeno, Ciclovia Perugia - Trasimeno, 27. Sanguineto - Monte Gualandro.
Restaurants in Lake Trasimeno
1. La Valle - Naturalistic Oasis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
The area of 'La valle' is located between S.Feliciano, S.Savino e S.Arcangelo in the township of Magione. It covers an area of approximately 1000 hectars, occuping one of the most interesting naturalistic section of the entire regional natural park of lake Trasimeno. The lake, which covers124 kmq, is the fourth-largest lake in terms of surface area, with a perimeter of 54 kmq and a maximum depth of just 6.70 m. Among all the lake environments, the most interesting and representative one is undoubtedly marked by the wetlands, with extensive reedbeds that grow close to the banks of the lake and characterised by their shallow waters. This area shelter and feed an incredible number of animal species and birds in particular, many of which have great scientific value. In fact, the lake Trasimeno is set in a strategic location along the flyways of many bird species distinctive of wetlands: many of them stop here for breeding, others for wintering and others for integrating the food reserves during the journey, so that every season of the year offers different and interesting observations. The oasis is open to guided tours of both individuals and groups at a very cheap price.
2. Isola Polvese
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 250 reviews
Reviewed By F12MPpeters - Rome, Italy
Isola Polvese, Lago Trasimeno, Umbria Lago Trasimeno is half-way down/up the Italian peninsular – about mid-way between Rome and Firenza – and generally considered the fourth largest lake in the country at 124 km2 surface area and perimeter 50 km. There are bike and walking trails that follow the lake shore for those interested but, for us, there simply wasn’t the time available. We had three little kids in tow, ambient temperature mid-summer this year have been in the high 30s degC and there’s more than sufficient geography, history and social development available harping back to the Etruscans to keep us interested for the next 100 years There’s more - Lago Trasimeno is in Umbria with all those gorgeous tourist/culinary pleasures/images. Isola Polvese is the largest of the three islands in Lago Trasimeno - the others are Isola Maggiore and Isola Minore - at around 70 ha. The history of the island encompasses the Etruscans, the Romans and the Umbrian people – Ombri/Ombrii – one of the ancient Italic peoples who date back >3,000 years. It was the Romans who eventually dominated, settling and incorporating the region into their greater empire (as they were to do across much of the Europe of the day). The lake was an important source of fish before the modern age when people depended largely upon what they could grow/harvest/capture locally. Fishing villages cropped up around the lake and on the islands – harvesting carp, pike and tench. The 600-year old castle/keep on Polvere and others elsewhere around the lake provided security. Notwithstanding this, the island was sacked by the Florentine army in the 17th century and declined thereafter until relatively recent times. Check out the museum in San Feliciano and there’s another on Maggiore – describing the importance of fish/technologies/employment/security of the lake. To get to Isola Polvese there’s the ferry from San Feliciano - notwithstanding this easy option we met up with a float board brigade when swimming off the beach at the eastern end of the island – the one opposite San Feliciano just 2.5 km away; dozen people had paddled across led by a guide. From a distance it looked as if they were simply standing on the surface of the water and swinging their paddles. Novel. We had a week’s holiday en famille and had taken a place above San Feliciano looking west over the lake – catching some gorgeous sunsets/evening skies. As a group we were six adults and three little kids, and time tends to race when you’re having fun. We’d scheduled half-day on Polvese and another half-day on Maggiore - first time on Polvese, but Maggiore we’d visited a few years back. Five of us - the other couple with their little girl - left earlier for the 20 minutes crossing. There were couple dozen fellow-travellers on the boat so lots of spare seats. The fare was €6 return each per adult with the little girl travelling free. It was a pleasantly warm morning with a galaxy of views back towards San Feliciano and the hills behind the village and the distant lakeshore to the south. Comfortable – scenic lakeside Umbria at its best. Once across, coffee/brioche beckoned and we headed for the ‘Café L’Isola’ on the edge of the little compound of buildings, offices, country house/restaurant (at the end of the jetty turn right – 50 m). Prominent wall boards around the jetty describe what the island had to offer, places to visit, native fauna and more. The island is part of the Trasimeno Regional Park and provides a centre for enviro-scientific development including the impact of tourism on the island. We had the beach 400 m away in mind for much of our time on the island – rather than walk the trails – but there’s the ruin of a pentagonal-shaped castello medievale that’s just on the other side of the compound that was an easy first option (given that we were still on-the-move); again, about 400 m through the buildings where there’s also a public lavatory. The small castello was pristine – renovated, clean and presentable. It was on sloping land. Walk inside and there’s just the surrounding walls to see with a 12-15 m tower in the wall at the highest point up-slope. There’s also a walkway around the walls 5-6 m high, but it wasn’t open to us. We had the place to ourselves. Returning through the compound, again, there’s those well-preserved/presented period buildings that impress. We collected the other couple and their two children at the ferry terminal on the way back to the beach – they’d taken the next ferry (45 minutes later) … what did we do before cell phones? Then to that beach – us and 90% of the other people on the island that day; it was easy to sit, sunbath, read, swim, play with the children and more. There was plenty of room on the beach and a deal of shade behind it. Some people were cooking BBQs. Lago Trasimeno provides all those popular Umbrian images, but it is not a swimmer’s lake – shallow with warm water sure, but opaque/clouded with mud and lake weed underfoot – it’s an agricultural lake and largely dependent upon local run-off. Lack of clarity means keeping an eye on small children because you can’t see beneath the surface. Beaches too are few and far between and they are not particularly sandy. Looking back … pleasant memories of an interesting day away where you’re not dependent upon the car for transport … the ease of remaining in one place, peaceful, the views across the lake and, of course, travelling by boat - open top deck, bright/high skies, distant green/grey hills. Embarking from San Feliciano and returning there later in the day – there’s this well-placed bar in the village along the lake shore from the jetty: ‘Il Chiosco’ - start the day with coffee/brioche and, late afternoon, it’s time for gelati. Peter Steele 18 February 2020
3. Pescatore Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 149 reviews
4. Zocco Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 89 reviews
Reviewed By DJLang73
Basketball and volleyball courts, beautiful grassed areas and shaded tables and the perfect place to watch the sunset and enjoy an apertivo
5. La Via del Trasimeno
6. Sualzo Beach
7. Pista Ciclabile del Trasimeno
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
8. Ciclovia Perugia - Trasimeno
9. 27. Sanguineto - Monte Gualandro
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