Last minute Itinerari Castiglione del Lago

From Federico II di Svevia: the medieval plant, from the family Of the Corgna: the Renaissance beauties

Castiglione del Lago was born as small Etruscan centre around the VI century B.C. Subdued by Perugia and established again by Federico II of Svevia, in 1247 assumed today's shape. To the same period is dated the construction of the Rocca del Leone. The boundaries of the city contain it completely, finishing toward the lake Trasimeno where rises the structure of the fortitude. Then followed the age of the Della Corgna and Di Ascanio, who transformed Castiglione del Lago into a place where the Renaissance could find acceptance. Symbolically the number 3 returns in the construction of the city: the medieval social classes were three and the Trinity, as well as three main roads, three the greater churches and three access doors. The Torrione della Rocca has a triangular and it's high around 30 meters.

The Palazzo Ducale was erect in the second half of 1500 following the concession of the State of Castiglione from pope Giulio III to the family Della Corgna. Among the most important frescos there are those that celebrate the "Deeds of Ascanio", the "Judgment of Paride", and the "Myth of Proserpina."

The Rocca del Leone (or Castello di Leone, from which derives the name of the village) has a pentagonal form with four towers to the corners and the triangular mast high thirty meters. The towers have equal disposition to the stars in the constellation of the lion. It was built on wish of Federico II beginning from 1247 and consequently always improved, up to make it entirely impregnable.

Donna Eleonora de Mendoza, the San Domenico Church, was built in the first half of 1600 on wish of the duke Fulvio Alessandro as thanks for a miracle received for his wife, this church has a wooden chests ceiling and an ambulatory destined to the burials of the Della Corgna, inside which rests Cesare Caporali.

The Santuario della Madonna della Craia has raised in the second half of 1600 on a miraculous aedicule devoted to the Madonna along the road between Castiglione del Lago and Panicarola. In 1690 the bell tower was raised and in 1856 the dome of inspiration of Bramante was remade.

Laviano is the place in which Santa Margherita da Cortona was born in 1247. On the way from Pozzuolo to Petrignano rises the little church of the Madonna del Pentimento, built in 1700 beside the secular Weeping Oak, witness of the conversion of Margherita.

It remains to visit the Polvese, the island of greater extension of the lake Trasimeno, today of ownership of the Province of Perugia, that has turned it into a Scientific Didactic Park, in which are developed experimentation and of search and educational activities in the environmental field. It's an enormous "green classroom" endowed with a Center of Studies and a Accomodation Center able to offer 44 places bed.