Castiglione del Lago

Once upon a time, Castiglione del Lago, was actually Lake Trasimeno’s fourth island. However the swampy marshes once surrounding the medieval hilltop town, gave way to progress. And now the town sits above a somewhat less-magical (but infinitely more practical) suburban moat with of supermarkets and shops.

The charming Medieval village fortress (Castello del Leone AKA Rocca del Leone – the Fortress of the Lion) in the centro storico old town still overlooks the cool clear waters of the Lake Trasimeno. It is today recognised as one of I Borghi piu Belli d’Italia, one of Italy’s most beautiful towns

WHAT TO DO IN CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO

Overlooking the clear waters of Umbria’s Lake Trasimeno, Castiglione del Lago has natural, architectural, historical beauty and delicious food. It is the biggest of Lake Trasimeno’s sunbathing hilltop towns and a hub of summer fun. The perfect spot for a holiday in Umbria.

SWIMMING AND WATER SPORT IN CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO

LAKE TRASIMENO BEACH

There is a perfect combination of the lake and beach activities, cafes and restaurants in Castiglione del Lago and activities surrounding countryside such as horse riding, hiking, biking and Vespas. You can take a ferry to the islands or even sail there yourself!

Lake Trasimeno’s sparkling blue waters provide not only respite from the heat of summer, they are also shallow, safe, and clean. Better yet, they glisten invitingly for a surprising few. If bus loads of sandle-and-sock wearing tourists is what you are looking for: do not come here. In Trasimeno, bronzing Italians do beach culture under sun umbrellas, in deck chairs, and sipping delicious café. On and around the lake, holidaymakers enjoy pedalos, kite surfing, canoeing or beach volleyball. Walking and cycling trails tempt the active, and if that sounds like too much wo/man-power, hire Italy’s own chic on wheels- a vespa. Naturally all this activity should be powered by local cuisine!

MOVIES IN THE SUMMER

The ROCCA MEDIEVALE becomes an open-air theatre in the summer – from June to the end of August/September – so keep an eye out for the movies with English subtitles (if you speak English) and concerts in the castle. Lots of family fun for summer holiday in Umbria

FESTIVALS IN CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO

CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO TULIP FESTIVALL

The Tulip Festival has been celebrated every April since 1956.  It is organized by the Castiglione del Lago pro-loco association and attracts thousands of visitors every year.  The event features an opening-day parade of allegorical floats decorated with thousands of colourful tulips by the five neighbourhoods.  Around town the tavernas open their doors and the streets are enlivened with local street actors playing ancient games in vintage costumes.

Coloriamo i Cieli Kite Festival

Every year in late April or May the Italian Kite Association organizes a festival called “Coloriamo I Cieli” (Let’s paint the sky attracting thousands of people from around the world. It now includes light aircraft (nearly 2000 in 2007), hot air balloons (17) and thousands of multi coloured kites.

SLOW FOOD AND LOCAL CUISINE CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO

Umbria is rich in history, culture, natural and man-made beauty. And what is a feast for the eyes and the heart – is also a feast for the stomach. The fertile valley of the Valdichiana rolls out seasonal products that create a rich local cuisine.

While you are in Castiglione del Lago look out for the many local varieties of vegetables. Some, at risk of extinction, have been protected by the ‘Institute of Genetic Improvement of the Faculty of Agriculture of Perugia’. These are grown by families or small businesses in the areas bordering Lake Trasimeno and only eaten locally.

Fabio and the Fagiolini Beanstalk
According to legend, once upon a few years ago, a young man named Jack, just joking, a young organic farmer from Castiglione del Lago called Fabio Berna, found a few jars of bean seeds in his grandparent’s attic. It was a giant success. Together with some other farmers, began growing Trasimeno beans again. In 2000, the Trasimeno bean was awarded a Slow Food specialty.

The creamy white Trasimeno beans have a delicate taste and the stronger colorful Trasimeno beans have a slightly nutty taste.

2,500 years ago, this type of bean was cultivated around the Lake Trasimeno by the Etruscans. High in protein, they were perfect for an ancient diet. By the 20th century however, no one could be bothered with these needy little guys that require intensive farming techniques. (During harvest the farmer has to collect the ripened beans every day rather than all at once). So they had been almost completely replaced by the easier to grow, fatter South American varieties – alas – almost forgotten.

Broccoletti del Lago

Another local delicacy that nearly disappeared thanks to introduced vegetables. Thankfully brought back from the compost heap in the nick of time. ‘Brocoletti’ of Lake Trasimeno are grown in the sandy soils of the surrounding lake villages of Magione, Passignano sul Trasimeno, Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Castiglione del Lago and Panicale. The brocoletti (or camette) are actually shoots of the turnip plant. It is topped before it flowering – boiled and garnished with oil and garlic. Harvesting takes place in late winter, early spring.
Brustico

Lake Trasimeno Fish

Lake fish such as perch or tench grilled and roasted over lake-reed straw which gives it a special flavour. Deboned and served with olive oil, salt, pepper and a dash of vinegar. This dish dates back to the ancient Etruscans.

Tegamaccio is perhaps the most iconic dish of of Lake Trasimeno. All the lake’s fish combined together in a fragrant tomato broth and cooked for at least 5 hours in a terracotta pot.

Regina in porchetta. Oven-baked queen carp carp flavoured with fennel, garlic, pepper and salt (a la porchetta roast suckling pig)

Tulip festival Castiglione del Lago

Ancient History of Castiglione del Lago
The fertile valleys of the Valdichiana and Lake Trasimeno have beenfought over since ancient times. Castiglione sits between the Etruscan strongholds of Orvieto, Chiusi and Arezzo. The Etruscans fought the Romans. Tuscans battled Perugians. Hannibal famously decimated the Romans here. King Fredrik II of Swabia (1194 – 1250) brought peace for a while until his fortress fell under the control of Perugia and the Papal States.

In 1550, Pope Julius III gave Castiglione del Lago to his sister and her son, Ascanio della Corgna (1516 – 1571) who became the Marquis of Castiglione and Chiusi.

The Dark Ages were defined by obscure wars with between obnoxious neighbours and/or, more often than not, the Pope. After one such battle, around 1247, Frederick II saw an opportunity. Fred was in need of some serious Central Italian defences (part of a massive Italy-long defence system) in the wars against the Papal states. He razed the burnt and crumbling remains of Castiglione del Lago’s previous incarnation and rebuilt a walled fortress – leaving us with the medieval time capsule we have to this day. These days, fortunately, the most battle-activity this peaceful little town sees is the ‘duelling-delis’ who tempt you with spears of cheese and swords of salami.

Who was King Fredrick II?
King Freddy is one of the most incredible people hardly anyone has ever heard of.
King of Sicily, King of Germany, King of Italy, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Jerusalem, son of Emperor Henry VI of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and Constance, heiress to the Norman kings of Sicily and finally dubbed ‘Antichrist’ by Pope Gregory IX. He spoke six languages (Latin, Sicilian, Middle High German, Langues d’Oïl, Greek and Arabic), was a patron of science, poetry and art and influenced modern Italian by “the first use of a literary form of an Italo-Romance language, Sicilian.” He ruled all the lands from Sicily to Germany and gained Jerusalem in the Crusades. The Papacy naturally hated him, and he was excommunicated three times.
Although Rocca del Leone was one of the most solid castles in Central Italy, the Papal states did eventually win. Perugia lost its battles with Pope Paul III’s salt tax. Castiglione became a fief of Perugia’s noble Baglioni family and to this day Umbrians do not put salt in their bread!

What does the Name Castiglione del Lago mean?

There is enough debate over the origin of the name to make it interesting.
Some say there was a long-ago family who bestowed the name “Leone” Lion upon the first long-lost castle. Others say the original name of the castle, Castillonem morphed into Castiglione (Castello del Leone) over time. Academics point out that many Italian places are called “Castiglione di… something” – marketing is not a new concept – and in the Middle Ages it was customary for lords to name their castles with images of beauty and strength: “Castrum Leonis”, Castiglione, Lion Castle. Somewhat less romantically, others point out that ‘Castiglione’ is ancient Gallic.‘Cast’ meaning house or castle and ‘Ion’ means Lord. So “residence of the Lord”. But others disagree! “Castiglione” has its roots in the Latin term “Castellio-onis,” which means “oppidulum” or “little fortress”. My personal favourite is that the castle was built in a pentagon shape resembling the constellation of Leo. So that the reason I’m going with.

Ascanio, when he wasn’t off fighting (which was often), was at home building a renaissance palazzo. Today it is the Town Hall, a museum and frescoed gallery artistically bedazzled by Pescaro-born Giovanni Pandolfi, Florentine Salvio Savini and, in 1574, Niccolo Circignani, (known as “Il Pomarancio”) added paintings and decorations to the Room of the Exploits (of Ascanio della Corgna) after his death.

The palazzo has a long, covered corridor that connects to the castle, and you can buy tickets to see both in an office off the main square.

Castiglione del Lago: The Mystery of Three

It’s not too hard to guess that the esoteric symbolism of the number three, oozing out of Castiglione del Lago’s every nook and cranny, is down to the fact that Fred’s architect, Elia of Cortona was also a monk. According to religious customs of the time, it was the most magical and powerful number in the Universe and reperesented in everything from the Holy Trinity to the social divisions of the period: the clergy, nobles and peasants. There are three gates into the town: Porta Perugina, Porta Senese and Porta Fiorentina. Also three churches: La Maddalena, San Domenico and Sant’Agostino. Finally, the Rocca del Leone is triangular, and originally three main streets led to the fortress.

Santa Maria Maddalena

Tulip festival Castiglione del Lago

The 11^th Century stuccoed Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, built to a Greek-cross plan, the main street, via Vittorio Emanuele (near the Porta Senese) has a panel painted by Eusebio da San Giorgio in 1580.

SLOW FOOD CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO