Lake Trasimeno
This is Italy’s fourth largest lake, and a designated natural park. There are several towns around the lake offering restaurants and public beaches. Boat trips go out on the lake and you can try water sports such as kayaking, motor boating and sailing. There is a lovely seaside atmosphere in these towns and quite a few festivals around the lake over the summer months.
The villages in the hills surrounding the lake are also nice to tour around. In the south-east corner, there is a wetlands reserve with wooden walkways and hides from which to spot the migratory birds which come here. And just south of the lake is a water park which the children will be sure to enjoy.
Cortona
This beautifully restored medieval town sits on a high hilltop surveying the plain below. Ever bustling, the main square is often alive with music or a festival and the narrow streets are lined with boutiques and restaurants. They wind up and up to a basilica set high above the town, and if you make it this far you are rewarded with far reaching views.
Perugia
Perugia is one of Umbria’s best preserved medieval hill towns and its capital. An elegant city, it teems with history, architecture and art yet also has a modern vibrant feel with lots going on. There are beautiful buildings around every corner here, and the National Gallery of Umbria houses one of the great picture collections in central Italy. There are also parks and the botanical gardens, and the most amazing view (of Monte Subasio and Assisi) can be had from the vantage point of the ‘Loggia dei Lanari’.
The great outdoors
This area is a delight to discover on foot or by pedal power. Bikes (including electric bikes) can be hired from nearby Lisciano Niccone. You can choose between the forested hills and vales of the Niccone Valley, or the flat lakeside trail around the top of Lake Trasimeno.
There are also signposted walking routes, around the lake and the surrounding hills. They vary in length from 7km to 14km. During the summer, there are guided walks at sunset.
As well as water sports on Lake Trasimeno, horse riding is available in the vicinity, there is a golf course on the south side of Lake Trasimeno, and tennis courts can be hired in Umbertide
