Lake Trasimeno

Trasimeno is the largest lake in central Italy but very shallow, nowhere much over six metres, so it warms quickly, silts, and has no natural outlet, which has caused water level problems since Roman times. In 217 BC Hannibal used a morning fog on the north shore to ambush the army of the consul Flaminius, killing thousands in a few hours; the site is marked on the plain near Tuoro. Isola Maggiore has a village of about a dozen residents and a lace-making tradition; Isola Polvese is a nature park; Isola Minore is uninhabited. Castiglione del Lago holds a walled fortress on a promontory.

The landscape

• The three islands - Maggiore inhabited, Polvese a park, Minore empty.
• The battle plain - the shore near Tuoro where the 217 BC ambush happened.
• Castiglione del Lago - a fortress and walls on a lakeside promontory.
• The lace tradition - Irish-taught lace still worked on Isola Maggiore.

When to go

April to October; ferries run on a reduced timetable in winter. Summer haze can flatten the views. Spring and autumn suit cycling the shore paths.

What to expect

The lake is shallow, weedy and murky in places, and not a swimming destination for everyone. Ferry timetables are limited out of season. Levels drop in dry years.

Nearby

Perugia lies east; Cortona is west in Tuscany.

Key facts