| Castiglione del Lago | ||
 | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | |
| Territory | Trasimeno | |
| Altitude | 304 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 205.26 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 15.358 (2019) | |
| Name inhabitants | Castiglionesi | |
| Prefix tel | 39 075 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 06061 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | St. Mary Magdalene | |
Position
| ||
| Institutional website | ||
Castiglione del Lago is a city ofUmbria.
To know
The city is one of the Most beautiful villages in Italy.
Geographical notes
It extends in the western part of Umbria, bordering the province of Siena and that of Arezzo. Its territory includes much of the Trasimeno lake and the Polvese island.
Castiglione del Lago stands on a limestone spur that was originally the fourth island of the lake, but following the lowering of the water level and the creation of an alluvial plain it finally assumed its current configuration. This fertile flat area, corresponding to the ancient lake basin, is bordered to the west by a series of hills that mark the physical border with the Tuscany. The modern aspect of the town has developed in the flat belt to the west from the medieval historic center.
Background
Castiglione del Lago was located in an area disputed first between the Etruscans and the Romans, later between the Tuscan towns and Perugia, causing the destruction of the original fortifications on numerous occasions, rebuilt several times.
Founded by the Romans with the name of Novum Clusium (Nuova Chiusi), stands on a hill that in ancient times was the fourth island of Trasimeno lake before the strip of water that separated it from the mainland was filled. Only during the reign of Frederick II (at the beginning of the 13th century), Castiglione experienced a period of relative stability.
Later the town fell under the control of Perugia, becoming a fief of the powerful Baglioni family. In 1550, Pope Julius III granted the fiefdom to his sister Giacoma Ciocchi del Monte. On November 19, 1563, her son, Ascanio della Corgna, became Marquis of Castiglione and Chiugi at the behest of Pius IV, together with his brother Cardinal Fulvio. In 1617 Paul IV granted the ducal title to Fulvio II. Ascanio I was succeeded by Diomedes, Ascanio II and Fulvio II, in whose service the burlesque poet Cesare Caporali and the severe court secretary, as well as political writer, Scipione Tolomei worked. Duke Fulvio II died in 1647 without leaving heirs and so the fiefdom returned under the dominion of the State of the Church.
The marquisate had an area of approx. 200 km² and importance as a "buffer zone" between the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the papal territories. It was a papal fief with the power of an empire and the right to mint coins. Ascanio della Corgna issued the statutes in February 1571, later completed by Cardinal Fulvio and his nephew Diomede: they constituted a large collection of civil and criminal juridical norms to govern what happened in the statelet. The marquisate was also renowned for cultural and artistic events: in the Castiglionese palace the marquis organized meetings of the Academy of Insensati, with the participation of distinguished writers, nobles and artists; Pomarancio and other painters frescoed the prestigious residence, designed by Vignola and Galeazzo Alessi.
Castiglione del Lago during the Second World War was crossed by the Albert line, also known as the "Trasimeno line": it was a defensive line created by the German army during the retreat in the Italian campaign in 1944.
How to orient yourself
Castiglione del Lago: full screen map.Fractions
- Abbey
- Casamaggiore
- Jewel
- Spots
- Panicarola
- Petrignano del Lago
- Flat
- Port
- Pozzuolo Umbro
- Sanfatucchio
- Vaiano
- Villastrada
How to get
- 1 Castiglione del Lago ferry terminal.
On the train
- 2 Castiglion del Lago station, Via della Stazione, 2. The station is located along the Florence-Rome line.
How to get around
What see
- 1 Corgna Palace (Ducal Palace), Piazza Antonio Gramsci, 1, ☎ 39 075 951099.
Full € 8 and also includes Rocca del Leone (Jul 2020). 
Mon-Sun 10: 00-13: 30 and 15: 30-19: 00. The only small "palace" existing in Umbria, with beautiful frescoed rooms by Pomarancio and Salvio Savini, including the Sala Maggiore and the Sala del Trono (mythological subjects, deeds of Ascanio della Corgna, executed by the Marquis Diomede); on the ground floor (it was used by the della Corgna as the seat of an "intellectual cenacle") very fine frescoes with the stories of the world upside down and Diana and Callisto, attributed to Salvio Savini; only 24 chairs remain of the original Corgnesco furniture.
Full € 8 and also includes Rocca del Leone (Jul 2020). 
Mon-Sun 10: 00-13: 30 and 15: 30-19: 00. The only small "palace" existing in Umbria, with beautiful frescoed rooms by Pomarancio and Salvio Savini, including the Sala Maggiore and the Sala del Trono (mythological subjects, deeds of Ascanio della Corgna, executed by the Marquis Diomede); on the ground floor (it was used by the della Corgna as the seat of an "intellectual cenacle") very fine frescoes with the stories of the world upside down and Diana and Callisto, attributed to Salvio Savini; only 24 chairs remain of the original Corgnesco furniture.
- 2 Rocca del Leone, ☎ 39075951099. Full € 8 and also includes Palazzo della Corgna (Jul 2020). Mon-Sun: from 1 Mar to 26 Mar 9: 30-19: 00, from 26 Mar to 30 Sep 9: 30-19: 00, from 01 Oct to 02 Nov 9: 30-18: 30, Fri-Mon from 03 Oct to 28 Feb 10: 00-17: 00. Christmas period Mon-Sun. Characteristic for the triangular tower, which Frederick II of Swabia had Friar Elia da Cortona revisit and to which the Marquis Ascanio I gave it a definitive appearance; it is connected to the ducal palace by a suggestive walkway with slits on the Trasimeno; the village is still surrounded by walls with three gates (Perugia, Florence, Siena); the urban plan, based on the number three, was designed by Galeazzo Alessi on studies by Vignola and indications by Ascanio della Corgna.
- 3 Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, Via Vittorio Emanuele, 13, ☎ 39075951159. Built in the early nineteenth century on a pre-existing building, it preserves the Madonna Enthroned by Eusebio da San Giorgio, a pupil of Perugino.
- 4 Church of San Domenico, Via del Forte, 36. Built in 1638 by Duke Fulvio II, as thanks for the healing of his wife Eleonora de Mendoza (the ex voto can be seen from a gangrene on an arm. A reproduction of the arm can be visited in the museum of San Domenico, next to the church) ; the valuable interior is equipped with a wooden coffered ceiling; in the adjacent chapel of the Savior there are the tombs of the poet Cesare Caporali and Duke Fulvio II, and interesting wooden statues, donated by them, depicting Jesus scourged and the Saint of Guzman.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Safety
- 3 Castiglione del Lago Hospital, Piazza Antonio Gramsci, 1, ☎ 3907595261.
How to keep in touch
Around
- 4 Sanctuary of the Madonna della Carraia, Location Carraia (it is 6.6 kilometers from the town).
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Castiglione del Lago
Commons contains images or other files on Castiglione del Lago
