Location: Castiglione del Lago
Top Things to do in Castiglione del Lago
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What to do and see in Castiglione del Lago, Umbria: The Best Sights & Landmarks
Castiglione del Lago is a town in the province of Perugia of Umbria (central Italy), on the southwest corner of Lake Trasimeno. Orvieto is 59 km (37 mi) south, Chiusi is 21 km (13 mi) to the south west, Arezzo is 56 km (35 mi) to the north west, Cortona is 21 km (13 mi) to the north and Perugia is 47 km (29 mi) to the south east.
Restaurants in Castiglione del Lago
1. Cucina della Terra
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 72 reviews
This is a fun-filled week that combines daily trips to unique towns in the countryside of tuscany and umbria Italy and hands-on cooking classes. We have a fully equipped modern kitchen run by professionally trained culinary teachers, van support and an itinerary that reflects years of researching the best in the region.
Reviewed By LECadigan
I am preparing Gerri's Ragu for 16 guests arriving for Thanksgiving and I remembering the most magical week of cooking, eating, touring and laughing that I spent with my daughter at Cucina Della Terra this September. The trip was a mother-daughter birthday celebration and it EXCEEDED my expectations. I have traveled extensively in my life and I know it can be a little risky to book a trip in an unknown area with unknown hosts so I was a little apprehensive. From meeting Jack at the train station to sadly leaving a week later..every detail was taken care of. This cultural experience was truly unbelievable. We toured a different village every day with time to shop and visit and then were treated to a delightful, authentic local lunch. In the afternoon we could relax a bit at our quaint and comfortable inn and then spent the later afternoon at the cooking school preparing our dinner with Gerri and Jack - the quintessential experienced and entertaining hosts and instructors. The week was just enchanting, clearly one of the best vacations I have ever had and considering it included accommodations, daily transportation, cheese and winery tours, all meals accompanied by local wines it was a fantastic VALUE. I can't recommend this immersive experience enough!
2. Chiesa di San Lorenzo
3. Santuario della Madonna della Carraia
4. Podere Marella
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
A pioneer in Italian organic wine making, Podere Marella is located in the midst of vineyards, olive trees and mature oak woodland on the border between Tuscany and Umbria, in the Lake Trasimeno area. While completely private and secluded, the privileged location of the converted 18th century farmhouse makes it a perfect base for excursions into one of the most beautiful and culturally rich regions in the world, and the ideal venue for special events.
5. Quercia di Santa Margherita da Cortona
6. Rocca del Leone
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 514 reviews
Reviewed By patrickgX7609CY
A fabulous place to visit in a beautiful town. The closed corridor access to the castle is amazing to walk through and then you go up spiral stairs and can walk right around the ramparts with brilliant views all across the lake - all good fun and a bit of an adventure for any able bodied person of any age.
7. Palazzo della Corgna - Palazzo Ducale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 408 reviews
Aka Palazzo Ducale. Next to (and sharing a ticket with) the Rocca del Leone fortress that you do have listed, but they need to be referenced separately; they are two very different attractions.
Reviewed By KatrinaMolini - Corciano, Italy
We visited Palazzo della Corgna in the afternoon and had the most fabulous time there! We saw the exhibition of Mikhail Koulakov, a Russian modern painter. It was a small exhibit but we found very interesting the building itself, which had stunning frescoes. It was a curious combination of “old” and “new”. Then we took the passage to Rocca del Leone (included in the ticket) and enjoyed a breathtaking view on the lake! The colors were fantastic!!! I highly recommend to come closer to sunset time for this purpose. P.S. The lady at the desk was nice and spoke English (we asked her about the bathroom, which requires the key and is located downstairs; you can also find a snack and soda machine there).
8. Chiesa di San Domenico
9. Centro storico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By F12MPpeters - Rome, Italy
Centro Storico, Castiglione del Lago, Umbria In addition to the centro storico, the review explores the beach at Castiglione – the one that runs alongside the public gardens north of the Rocca de Leone and opposite the strip of restaurants and bars on the Via Lungolago some of which have separate reviews. We spent the morning on the beach at Monti di Lago - below the villaggio next to the Lido Santino on the eastern side of the lake – through to lunchtime before heading south round the lake to the sandy beach at Castiglione del Lago that we remembered from a previous visit 10 years ago. At that time, we were on our way to Isola Maggiore and the ferry terminal is just down from the beach. Look across the lake from Monte di Lago to Castiglione del Lago and it’s just 10 km away. We had a week’s holiday con la famiglia and had taken a place near to San Feliciano looking west over Lago Trasimeno and catching some gorgeous sunsets/evening skies. There were three couples and three little kids in our group, and time tends to race when you’re having fun – there’s so much to see and do. The holiday represented an opportunity to explore and enjoy the lake, which included trips to the islands and nearby towns/villages. Lago Trasimeno is part-way along 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 for excursions of this kind. We had the small kids, ambient temperatures mid-summer have been in the high 30s degC and, equally, there was more than sufficient interest in the geography, history and social development of the local peoples to keep us happy for the week. The beach in Castiglione del Lago is next to the public gardens - spacious, grass/tree covered area between the road and the lakeshore and, crucially, with lots of car parking (for which you pay - €1/h). Wherever you are in the lake, however, the water remains much the same – opaque, full of weed and with a muddy base once you are into the water - it’s the best available. Beach shoes are an advantage. Move into deeper water, and you’re fine. Better still, hire a pedalo and take the group with you – we did, keeping an eye on the little ones. There’s a stone block/rock a few metres off-shore – logical target for those looking for an easy swim or somewhere from which to jump into the water – lots of people there enjoying themselves. By late afternoon, of course, the kids were tired … it was time to find those pizze and feed everyone. We drove up the hill into the centro storico through the narrow gate in the medieval wall and parked in the spacious Piazza Antonio Gramsci opposite the Palazzo della Corgna (containing museum & gallery and also the Comune/town hall). The piazza is gorgeous - mature trees, war memorial, shaded seating and great views of the lake/landscape outside the wall. If you have the time this is where you stop, lean on the wall and appreciate the elegance of both the town and the surrounding country. Here you’re at the lakeside/eastern end of the centro storico next to the hospital in the part that stands out from the lake shore behind the high medieval walls of the Rocca del Leone. Prominence and elevation above the lake provides a measure of separation from the modern town below. Some texts described this land as once the fourth island in Lago Trasimeno. In-fill over the years between the island and the lake shore gave rise to the small promontory that exists today – this is home to the centro storico and the castle which dates from the mid-13th century. The layout of the centro storico is attributable to the original Roman settlement. Castiglione del Lago exemplifies all that is delightful about the Umbrian countryside – medieval structures adapted to the modern day – well-cared for, clean, presentable - catering for the tourists who funnel through in their thousands each year; lots of attractive eating places, souvenir shop, bars where you can sit with a coffee to watch people, gelaterie and more - that fairly gentle pace of life. Walk the length of the Via Vittorio Emanuele from the Comune to the other end – 300 m or so - and take in the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena – it dominates the western quartiere of the centro storico with its fine tower and rotondo roof. Check the centro storico from the beach – and the novel profile of the church roof line against the sky. And then there is the centro storico at night. It was Saturday evening and the haunt of wandering couples, families and groups of young people. We left the restaurant and headed for the gelateria a short distance away and, cornetti in hand stood and listened to the guitarist on the corner nearby – capturing the mood of his music in the shadows of this ancient hilltop borgo. Kids asleep we headed home for the night, taking the road north around the lake – further, but faster – and passed the battlefield where, in 217 BCE, the Carthaginians led by Hannibal had routed the Roman army of the day – the largest ambush ever in ancient military history. Wherever you are in modern Umbria there are tantalizing images of the people who have gone this way before you. Peter Steele 05 April 2020
