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Cycling
round Trasimeno
Lake
Lake Trasimeno, the fourth lake of Italy, lies
surrounded on three sides by a backdrop of gentle rolling hills covered
with olive trees, vineyards and forest. On the side facing
Tuscany,
a wide open plain stretches out. The banks of the lake are dotted with
tourist resorts. All waters sports can be pursued and its a real
anglers’ paradise. Three islands emerge out of the calm waters of
the lake: Isola Polvese, the largest, Maggiore, the
most populated and Minore, the smallest and private island. The
islands can be visited with APM Lake Trasimeno Inland Navigation
The lake has been a
Natural
Park since 1995 and has a rich flora and fauna. Present are wild swans,
whistle ducks, harrier eagle, the royal owl, fishing hawk, grebe, heron,
stork, bittern, eel, carp, pike, bass, water lilies and ilex grove.
The
width of the lake has altered considerably over the centuries, being in
fact dependent on the seasonal and cyclic trend of rainfall. The problem
of regulating its waters has existed since as far back as the Roman and
medieval times.
The
territory
of Trasimeno
was already inhabited in Etruscan times, as numerous tombs discovered
around the hills have testified. Later, the area around the lake came
under Roman domination. Here the Romans were subjected to one of the
most disastrous defeats in their military history. On
23rd June 217 BC
,
during the course of the second Punic War, the Carthaginian army fought
against the Roman soldiers on the northern shores of the lake. The
Carthaginians, led by
Hannibal,
wiped out the Roman army. In the Middle Ages Perugia and Florence fought
over possession of the lake and it was later disputed over by the Church
and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
During this holiday you will cycle in three stages
around lake Trasimeno. The strip of flat land around the lake and the
cycle path covering most of the circuit make this an excellent venue for
not to strenuous cycling trips. This holiday combining sun, water and
the relaxed cycling is suitable both for families with children and for
people, who are not experienced cyclists.
There are two proposals for an excellent holiday:
-
A
5- day holiday: You cycle in stages around the lake during which
you will have 4 overnight
stays in 3 different locations.
-
A
week: You cycle in three stages around the lake with a rest day
between each stage to visit the interesting towns, have a swim and
visit the islands.
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Programme
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The 5 day
version |
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Day
1
|
Arrival
at Castiglione del Lago
Castiglione
del Lago is situated on a promontory
covered with olive groves, near the western shores of the lake.
Castiglione is a popular tourist and holiday resort, with a wide
range of accommodation. It has a large beach with bathing
facilities. The lively town centre is for the most part still
encompassed within the medieval town walls.
The castle was built
by Federick II of
Swabia
and rises up over the town, offering good views of
the lake from its garden. The polygonal castle walls are crowned
with merlins and have alternating round and square towers. The
high central keep has a triangular plan. The castle was once
known as the Castle of the Lion.
The
Ducal
Palace
(Palazzo Ducale or Palazzo della Corgna) was built
as a tower-house for the Baglioni family of
Perugia
. In the second half of the 16th century,
Ascanio della Corgna trasformed the building into the ducal
palace you see today, based on plans either by Vignola or Alessi.
A covered passageway, now partly ruined, connected the palace to
the castle. There are interesting frescoed rooms painted by
G.A.Pandolfi and S.Savini (16th century).
Your
overnight stay will be in a Residence B&B in the new part of
the town, not far from the beach, the boulevard with its many
nice restaurants and bars and the small harbour where daily
boats are going to Isola Maggiore and Polvese.
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Day
2
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1st
stage to Sant’Arcangelo
(23 km)
You leave the residence and Castiglione del Lago and
cycle inland. Today you will pass small villages such as
Sanfatucchio, Macchie and Casalini. You will be cycling mainly
along quiet dirt roads.
Your overnight stay will
be in a hotel just outside the
village
of
Sant’Arcangelo
. The hotel has a
private swimming pool and the adjacent chalet park /
campsite is owned by the same person, so hotel guests can also
make use of the campsite facilities: children’s playground, 25
x 12,5m swimming pool, tennis court, ping-pong table, bowling,
beach volleyball, soccer field, internet point, restaurant and
bar
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Day
3
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2nd
stage till Passignano
(21 km)
You leave your hotel and cycle for a short stretch
along the main road, passing Sant’Arcangelo after which the
cycle path around the lake begins. After 6,5 km you pass the
entrance of the ‘oasis’ La Valle, which is part of the
natural reserve. In this oasis, which you can visit
independently or with a guide, is a large area of wetland with
reeds which is home to many bird species of scientific and
naturalistic interest. The cycle path is interrupted again and
passing along the main road you come to the fishing
village
of
San Feliciano
,
which has a small harbour from which a small ferry goes to the
island
of
Polvese
,
currently a
Scientific
Park
.
In San Feliciano there is a fishing museum, which documents the
long history of the
Trasimeno
Lake
describing its main activity over the centuries: fishing. After
San Feliciano you will continue along the cycle path once more.
Your overnight stay will be in Passignano,
situated on the northern shores of the lake. Passignano is
divided into two parts: the medieval part, with the ruins of the
fortress, lies on the slopes of a small ridge facing towards the
lake, while a modern part stretches out along the shores.
Passignano is a well-known bathing resort. The economy is
largely based on tourism, although the ancient fishing and
ironwork industries are also thriving activities.
Your hotel is just outside Passignano (1 km) at a
campsite by the lake. There’s a swimming pool, a pool for
children with a slide, a bubble pit, beach, ping-pong table and
children’s playground as well as a bar, restaurant and
internet point.
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Day
4
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3rd
stage from Passignano back to Castiglione
del
lago
(23 km)
First
you pass the centre of Passignano. Places of interest are the
church of the Madonna dell’Oliveto, which dates back to the
1500’s, the 13th
century Castle, the SS Maria of the Miracles, one of the
Umbrian Renaissance masterpieces and the Pieve of St Christopher
built on the ruins of a earlier pagan temple. From Passignano
you can visit the only inhabited island Maggiore. The original,
typical aspect of the 1400 village founded by fishermen is still
intact. In the 13th century Saint Francis spent a
Lent there as a hermit. There are some nice old churches to visit: S.Salvatore (13th C) and S.Michele Arcangelo (14th C) with a painting by
G.B.Caporali at the altar. You can also visit the ruins of the
castle-shaped Villa Isabella (19th C). Cycling along the cycle path you will reach the town of
Tuoro
. Its origins are relatively modern (14th
C), but its fame is rooted in the memorable battle fought out
between the Roman and Carthaginian armies (217 BC). On the
outskirts of Tuoro the history of this battle is illustrated on
stone slabs. The historic centre is higher up (300m
a.s.l.) and to visit it you have to leave the route for a while.
At the lake itself is a large campsite, the ferry pier, a beach,
children’s attractions and the Campo del Sole with bar and
restaurants. The
Campo del Sole is a sort of open air museum with sculptures made
by different artists between 1985 and 1989.
Continuing along the cycle path you will reach
Castiglione del Lago
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Day
5
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Departure |
The
8 day tour:
During the 8 day tour you will have rest
days to visit the interesting towns, have a swim and visit the islands.
Castiglione del Lago and Passignano have railway stations with trains
going to towns such as
Assisi,
Perugia, Spello and Orvieto.
Programme:
Dag
1: Arrival
at Castiglione
del Lago
Dag
2:
rest day in Castiglione (also possible at the end)
Dag
3:
cycling to Sant’Arcangelo
Dag
4:
rest day
Dag
5:
cycling to Passignano
Dag
6:
rest day
Dag
7:
cycling to Castiglione del Lago
Dag
8:
departure
The
package includes:
-
4
/ 7 overnight stays with breakfast in a residence and *** stars hotels
-
half board version 2/4 dinners (in residence Castiglione only with
breakfast possible)
-
luggage
transportation
-
route
instructions (in Italian, Dutch or English) and maps (routes for gps
available)
-
tour
information (hotel list, brochures)
-
back
up service
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Period
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from
1st April till 31 October
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Level
1
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short, gentle cycling trips around the lake. The routes
are mostly on flat terrain
with only occasional slight climbs, but with never more
than 100 metres of difference
in altitude. Daily distances between 20 and 25 km.
Cycling mostly over good dirt roads and gravel cycle path
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Price
2010
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5
day tour: per person double room sharing with breakfast from
€ 320,00
5
day tour: in single room with breakfast from
€ 425,00
5
day tour: 3rd person in triple with breakfast from
€280,00
8
day tour: per person double room sharing with breakfast from
€ 455,00
8
day tour: in single room with breakfast from
€ 620,00
8
day tour: 3rd person in triple with breakfast from 410,00
suppl.half board 5
day tour from € 40,00
suppl.half board 8
day tour from € 75,00
rental
of gps, bikes,
trailer bikes,
children's bikes and child seat possible
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