PERUGIA Lake Trasimeno - The islands - boat tours

There are three islands on Lake Trasimene: Isola Polvese, Isola Maggiore, Isola Minore.

The second largest island of the three is the Isola Maggiore, the only one to be inhabited and a popular destination for boat tours.



Isola Maggiore has in fact been transformed into an environmental teaching laboratory. A tiny fishing village with houses dating back to the 14th and the 16th centuries stands on the island, as well as the Romantic folly knwon as the Guglielmi castle (Villa Isabella), built in 1885. This is seriously neglected and no longer accessible. It was built on the site previously occupied by the 1328 convent and church of St Francis.

It is said that St Francis spent his 1211 Lent on the island, sleeping on a rock that is now kept in the chapel that stands near his statue, on the spot where he landed. The paintings that once adorned the church of St Francis now hang in the 12th century Romanesque Gothic church of San Salvatore in the village. Another church, San Michele Arcangelo, stands on at the top of the hill. It is from the 12th century and has fine Umbrian school paintings from the late 13th century to the 15th century.

Oddly, the islanders specialise in making Irish lace. The technique was introduce in 1904 by the Marchesa Elena Guglielmi, when she imported an Irish housekeeper to the island.

SAILING AND MOTOR - ROWBOAT NAVIGATION

Tha A.P.M., Trasimeno Navigation Service, ensures regular connections between the mainland and the islands, both to the Isola Polvese and the Isola Maggiore. Prices and Timetable Navigation, service by APM. This service allows tourists to enjoy personalised cruises daily. Boat hire is also available for excursions on the lake's waters.

Most of the licensed beaches offer rowing boats and wind surfs for hire. The following additional facilities are also available:

District of Castiglione del Lago:
n° 3 Mooring for motor-boats
n° 1 Mooring for sailing-boats
n° 1 Sailing school
n° 1 Water-skiing lessons

District of Magione:
n° 3 Mooring for motor-boats
n° 3 Mooring for sailing-boats
n° 1 Wind-surfing school

District of Passignano sul Trasimeno:
n° 1 Mooring for motor-boats
n° 1 Mooring for sailing-boats
n° 1 Sailing school

District of Tuoro sul Trasimeno:
n° 2 Mooring for motor-boats
n° 1 Mooring for sailing-boats
n° 1 Water-skiing lessons