Around Lake Trasimeno by bike, in harmony with nature
The following lines are an invitation for a beautiful day trip around Lake Trasimeno by bike, in harmony with nature.
Author: Gunther Büxel (a dear guest of ours at Casa Lauretana)
Note:
Distance: approx. 70 km
Difference in altitude: +110m; -110 m
Difficulty: medium
Surface: tarmac and gravel
Suitable for: all types of bikes (except racing bikes)
Season: September – June

We set off at our trustworthy bike rental Marinelli Ferrettini in Via Buozzi in Castiglione del Lago:
Our high-quality e-bike is waiting here, equipped with a small pannier for the wallet and a bike lock.

At the roundabout by the end of Via Buozzi, the friendly owner of the bike rental shop sends us to the right. Heading north, towards Cortona, we soon reach the well-signposted cycle path which will lead us around Italy’s fourth largest lake for the next 70 km or so.

After a few miles we are driving on quiet gravel roads directly along the lakeshore. The landscape is unique and very natural. We pass the former military airport and see a few small fishing ponds.
Driving then through tall reed vegetation one has to marvel at how unspoiled the western shore of this lake is. The route takes us past the village of Borghetto, where we can almost touch the water of the lake.


Still heading to the North, we make a small detour to Tuoro sul Trasimeno, a pretty, small village steeped in history. It was here that the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal crushed the Romans in 217 BC.

My personal insider tip: go visit the small but very interesting “Museo di Annibale” in Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi 7, in the centro storico of Tuoro. Unfortunately, the website of the museum is only written in Italian language, but the opening hours are updated. Please check here:
https://livingtuoro.it/luoghi-di-interesse/museo-di-annibale/
The young man in the museum knows EVERYTHING about the 2nd Punic War! He gives you a wonderful guided tour!
Next stop: Passignano sul Trasimeno. This medieval town is characterized by its beautiful lakeside promenade, one of the few on Lake Trasimeno, by the way.


We park our bikes in the bike rack in front of the Mayfair Bar in Piazza Garibaldi and treat ourselves to a tasty cup of cappuccino enjoying the nice view of the lake.

The next section of the route takes us into the municipality of Magione, with its gently rolling hills and olive trees. We pass the little, rather unspectacular village of Torricella.

On the road we find many opportunities for great photo stops, and the view of the lake surprises us again and again with new shades of color and endless reed beds. Not a soul around! Nor any car. There is just nature and us.
We were told, that over 200 different bird species in this area can find a natural habitat. Incidentally, Lake Trasimeno is also crossed by many migratory birds.
Further up we spy the Castello di Zocco, a military fortress from the XIII century, but there is not enough time to visit it.


In San Feliciano, a quaint fishing village in the east of the lake, we get off our bikes and push them along the short, beautiful lakeside promenade. If you have time, you can treat yourself to a quick break at the bar and enjoy the view on some beautiful old fishing boats. Lots of great crested grebes and teals frolic in the water here.
Guiding our bikes with the hands, we stroll on to the southern end of the village and then start cycling towards Sant’Arcangelo in the south of the lake.


On the left, we can see the forests of Montebuono and Marzolana. But our gaze is again magically drawn to the play of light on the lake and its islands.
In Sant’Arcangelo, we spontaneously turn right and take a short ride to the romantic ferry pier, from where you can almost jump onto the Isola Polvese (here you really have to take a picture).
Back on the main route we start feeling a little hungry. It’s time for a delicious lunch!

Luck is with us: the Locanda dei Pescatori not far from the jetty is open today. In this beautifully situated, small fish restaurant which is run by the local “Cooperativa dei Pescatori del Trasimeno” we enjoy a plate of “gnocchetti alla tinca affumicata” (small potato gnocchi with smoked tench).

The fishery co-operative of Lake Trasimeno is not doing well because the lake is in bad conditions: the water level is dropping from year to year, the rainfall is constantly decreasing, many species of fish have already died out.


After this delicious meal and the obligatory espresso, we have regained forces and set off again for the final part of the route around the southern tip of the lake.

At the junction for Casalini, we take the direct route to Castiglione del Lago, which now runs a little further away from the water, partly under shady trees or through small reed beds again.

Before arriving back in Castiglione del Lago and handing in our trekking bikes, we make a quick detour into the old town. We enter it by the old Roman Porta Perugina, the entrance near the hospital and the Fortress ( La Rocca). We sit down at a table at the „Bar Centrale“ in Piazza Mazzini, opposite the fountain and order an Aperol Spritz.
This is the perfect way to end this beautiful cycling tour before returning our trekking bikes to the rental shop in Via Buozzi.

Conclusion:
This variedly tour around Lake Trasimeno by bike with all the stops we have suggested can easily be done in one day (9 am – 4 pm) without any stress. From the saddle of your bike, in harmony with nature, you can experience the beauty and magic of Lake Trasimeno from a completely different perspective. Enjoy!