SCOPRI CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO - DISCOVER CASTIGLIONE

Naturalistic, historic and landscape itineraries to discoverbeauties and peculiarity of Castiglione del Lago.

We created these walking routes to know better the characteristics of our town Castiglione Del Lago and its urban districts. The path can be divide in two parts: the first is like a “urban trekking”, that allow us to observe the town in its particular things, going up and getting off from hill to hill. The other is a “natural trekking”, developed all along the Trasimeno lakeside, the route is flat and the landscape is very nice!

The urban trekking starts from “Via B. Buozzi”, near the Secondary School “Rosselli Rasetti”, head quarter of the secondary schools of Castiglione Del Lago.Going up to the historic centre we found some stairs, very old, that bring us in front of the medieval wall. In front of us you can find a very interesting panoramic square “Rondò”, where you can enjoy an unbelievable panorama and landscape. From here, in front of you, you can see Pozzuolo, Montepulciano and the Valdichiana. At right you can see Cortona and the Trasimeno Lake. At your left Chiusi, Città Della Pieve, Cetona and Amiata Mountains. At your back there is Porta Senese, an old door with medieval arch.

© Collezione Claudio Stecchi © Collezione Claudio Stecchi

From the Rondò, taking some stairs and a steep descent “Via Pascoli” you can arrive at Lido Comunale, a nice beach close to the ferry service. From the pier the landscape is awesome thanks to the lake and the natural environment that surround it. From this point the visitor can go to visit Maggiore and Polvese islands. In the first there are 18 old families that live here and the other, Polvese, is a natural Oasi. In front of the pier there are some stairs in direction of the centre of the town. This stairways going up through a hill called “Poggio” between meadows and olives. Continuing around the castle you can achieve the entrance of Della Corgna Palace.

View of Trasimeno Lake, Islands and Hills

First map of Trasimeno Lake draw by Leonardo Da Vinci – Tectonic Origins

Now we are in Piazza Gramsci, in front of Perugina Door, at right you can take Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main street of the old town. Behind you there is Della Corgna palace, frescoed from renaissance period and the medioeval fortress with her huge tower “The Mastio”.

Frescoes in Della Corgna’s Palace – By Pomarancio

The corridor that link the Renaissance Palace with the Medieval Fortress

The Rocca del Leone is one of Castiglione del Lago's most important highlights.The solid and majestic fortress is part of the urban structure and can be considered an extension of the village.The Mastio of the Rocca reaches almost 40m seems to be a 'guardian of the Trasimeno' ready to catch whoever arrives with bellicose intents.The Rocca del Leone has been changed and reinforced several times, now it shows the design wanted by Frederick the 2nd, who had it reconstructed around 1247, probably following a project by the monk Elias of Cortona.In exceptional cases, when an enemy assault was foreseen, the fortress was reinforced by the construction of trenches and moats. During pillages and forays the inhabitants of the near countryside and the village could shelter within its high walls.Inside the courtyard of the Rocca del Leone are still preserved the ancient remains of a church formerly dedicated to the Saint Apostles Giacomo and Filippo.

After the visit of these two monuments, our route continues to Piazza Mazzini, the central square of the old town. Along the street there are very old palaces and buildings. From here you can see Porta Fiorentina directed to Cortona, Tuoro, Maggiore e Minore islands. After about 100 mt at your right you can continue in Discesa del Pozzino to arrive fast at the lake and the Lido Arezzo beach. After there is the natural path that arrive in the middle of the ex military airport Eleuteri. Now starts the naturalistic trekking. The ex military areoport Eleuteri is actually property of the Municipality of Castiglione Del Lago and it’ now under renovation.

The path arrives in the middle of the didactic wood where we started to study the different kind of flora and fauna. The route continues with a bike street that surround the Trasimeno Lake. From the Ex-Airport you can arrive in Rigutini Village passing through the uncontaminated environment that surround the lake. From this point, crossing the street, we continue in direction of Piana, a small town near Castiglione del Lago. T This trail is dedicated to MTB.

The path continues until Castagni Village and from here we can follow a countryside street which pass through fields, hills, and a small river, called Fosso Paganico. Continuing in direction of Pozzuolo we arrive in front of Chiesa di Soccorso from where we can observe Castiglione del Lago (old town) and it’s promontory.