CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO AND TRASIMENO LAKE

Conquered by the Etruscans, it was subjected to the jurisdiction of nearby Chiusi and for many centuries kept the name of "Castrum Clusii" (castle of Chiusi). After the Roman era the territory was reclaimed and connected to the Valdichiana.

In the Middle Ages it became a powerfully fortified village, the Castle was built, then destroyed and rebuilt until Frederick II of Swabia (XIII century) had it demolished and rebuilt to transform it into a fortress called 'Castello del Leone' from which the current name of the Municipality. From the 16th to the 17th century it was a marquisate and then a duchy of the Della Corgna. When the Della Corgna family died out in the 17th century, Castiglione del Lago passed into the possession of the Church until the Unification of Italy (1860).

The historic center is surrounded by the medieval walls with the three Florentine, Sienese and Perugian gates. Noteworthy is the Rocca del Leone, one of the most interesting examples of Umbrian military architecture of the Middle Ages: built in 1247, designed by Friar Elia Coppi da Cortona, it is in the shape of an irregular pentagon, with five towers and three doors, dominated by the tall triangular tower almost 30 meters. The walkway offers a splendid view of the lake, while the vast interior space is now used as a natural amphitheater for shows.

Another building of great artistic value is Palazzo Ducale or della Corgna, built by Ascanio della Corgna in 1560 to a design by Vignola or Galeazzo Alessi: it offers richly frescoed interiors by Niccolò Circignani known as "Il Pomarancio" and Salvio Savini, with mythological scenes and exploits of the captain of fortune Ascanio della Corgna who together represent one of the best examples of mannerist painting in the region. To see the church of Santa Maria Maddalena, with a valuable panel from 1500 of a pupil of Perugino, a "Madonna del Latte" from the Sienese school of the fourteenth century and frescoes by Mariano Piervittori (1850), the church of San Domenico di Guzman, with a beautiful coffered wooden ceiling and an ambulatory intended as a tomb for the della Corgna, and, on the main square of the village, Piazza Mazzini, the palace of the Capitano del Popolo of the thirteenth century. Nearby, Castiglione del Lago has numerous settlements of Etruscan origins widespread in various small towns built on the surrounding hills: in Gioiella, Vaiano, Pozzuolo, and near Panicarola the sanctuary of the Madonna della Carraia (Protovillanovian necropolis): the sanctuary, erected in 17th century, it has a large Greek-cross interior and a remarkable wooden altar with the venerated image of the Madonna and Child.

Of great naturalistic and environmental interest the Polvese Island, the largest of Lake Trasimeno, destined to an equipped oasis and didactic-environmental park, presents a rich vegetation with holm oak, laurel and oak woods and offers the possibility of admiring a heritage.

Il Trasimeno is centrally located with respect to the art cities of central Italy, between Florence and Rome; near places rich in history and culture such as Siena, Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto and Gubbio. The district of the lake is made up of eight Municipalities, some of which lie on the hills (Città della Pieve, Paciano, Panicale and Piegaro) and others (Castiglione del Lago, Magione, Passignano sul Trasimeno and Tuoro sul Trasimeno) directly overlooking the mirror water. The largest of the six Umbrian Regional Parks, is one of the most particular and important wetlands in Europe due to the presence of botanical, faunal and fish species of enormous value. The absolute quiet and the uncontaminated nature, makes it unique to discover.