Casa Trasimonte is located in central Italy, on the border of Tuscany and Umbria. The house is located on a green hill at an altitude of about 670 metres with views over Lake Trasimeno. This area is very popular with cyclists, mountain bikers, horse riders, trail runners and hikers.
An important junction of cycling and hiking routes is located at the nearby restaurant Lo Scoiattolo (the squirrel). Hikers and cyclists come here to have a drink on the beautiful terrace and enjoy the magisterial view over the lake and islands. They then continue their route along one of the many hiking and cycling paths.
At this spot, there is also an information panel indicating the hiking routes. Such signs can be found at several junctions. The routes are well signposted.
We took our first walk in the summer from the holiday home to Passignano sul Trasimeno. This is a distance of about 10 km that we covered in about two hours. You can start on the gravel path in front of the house and then walk up. The view over the lake is immediately stunning. This is followed by a stretch of forest road and you arrive at a point where several roads converge.
Here there is also an 'edicola votiva' or little chapel. It is just on the border between the territories of Lisciano Niccone and Passignano sul Trasimeno. In front of the little chapel, a couple was praying. We spoke to them briefly. Apparently, they lived a bit further down the valley from Lisciano Niccone and the man had built and maintained the various forest roads in the 1970s. He therefore knew immediately which of the various roads would lead to Passignano sul Trasimeno.
A little further on in the forest was another little house where a lady was reading. She saw us walking and asked where we were going. She immediately offered to bring two bottles of water so as not to dry out in the sun. Indeed, we were not really prepared for the hike in the middle of summer and we drank the bottles all the way out on our trek anyway.
The trail continued through the forest and then over more rocky terrain. After about half an hour of walking, we passed a farmhouse where someone was hanging laundry. We then continued on a slightly wider gravel path, with alternating views of forest, fields, olive trees, and of course... the lake. After almost two hours, from atop the mountain below, we could see the village of Passignano sul Trasimeno. From there, it was about another 15-minute walk to the lake.
Passignano sul Trasimeno is a village with a beautiful historic core. On the waterfront, there are a number of seafood restaurants and cosy bars. Whatever time one comes here, the view over the lake is always beautiful and soothing. And in the evening, one can watch the sun set from the jetty. This is when a beautiful orange glow falls over the water. This is the time to take beautiful photos.
The family members would join us on the terrace and then take us back home by car. Experienced hikers we are by no means, but we were proud and satisfied with the beautiful afternoon walk we had made.
Later, in winter, we tried a loop trail of about 18 km. While walking. The downhill sections posed no problem. Then again, the uphill sections were tough. During this hike we came across an awful lot of 'edicole votive'. These are small shrines containing a statue of Mary, Francis or another saint. They usually stand at the point where several roads converge. At these points there are often also some benches, a picnic table and/or an information board indicating the different routes.
You can find some of the routes on the website of 'Parco del Lago Trasimeno'. Here you will find some great walks in the area around Casa Trasimonte, around the lake or on the islands. But you can also set off without preparation and just follow the signposts.
The whole area around Casa Trasimonte is veined with hiking trails. For example, it is even possible to walk on foot from restaurant Lo Scoiattolo through mountains and valleys along slow roads towards Cortona (20 km. out). And you might even come across Etruscans, Romans or Hannibal and his elephants along the way. Or just a piglet, deer or squirrel. That, of course, is also possible.
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