THE TERRITORY
THE VILLAGE
L’Hotel Ali sul Lago, just outside Perugia and Assisi, is immersed in the calm and tranquility of Lake Trasimeno. The Hotel is located right on the waterfront, a place where peace and tranquility and where you can fully enjoy the relaxation that nature and the waters of Lake offer.
The Hotel is located a short walk from the center of San Feliciano, an ancient fishing village in the municipality of Magione, a few meters from the town center and the landing-stage for the ‘Polvese island, inside the Natural Park of the Trasimeno.
L ‘due to its strategic location, is the ideal place for a relaxing holiday or as a starting point for your excursions to the most interesting places of Umbria and Tuscany, with their villages, Hotel Ali sul Lago, as well as for Food and wine tours (wine, truffle oil) and spa.
The small village of San Feliciano is the perfect place for a stroll or to relax at the lake. It is one of the largest municipalities of Lake Trasimeno but it is a destination for many visitors who, for a vacation or for a day, choose San Feliciano to enjoy the scenery of the lake. Due to its unique lakefront, where in summer can enjoy delicious ice cream while walking on the pier, with small docks, boats moored or pulled to shore, the landscape is still home to the signs of traditional fishing, bringing the visitor back in time . The ancient village near the lake extends on the hill with characteristic alleys and steep stairways.
A small pearl on Lake Trasimeno, San Feliciano is also remembered for its beautiful sunsets, the science magazine “Focus” has entered the law of the ten most beautiful in the world. Not to be missed and exciting at any time of year, the sunsets of the lake with magical colors and nuances enchant visitors and residents.
The parish church dates back to 1905 and built in neo-Gothic style is characterized by a wide nave with cross vaults. Above the central altar is a large painting depicting San Feliciano ogee feet, in a solemn pose and adorned characteristic vestments of bishops.
From the churchyard there is a beautiful view of the lake and the island Polvese, which the locals call it, familiarly, “Island.”
San Feliciano is also the ideal place to spend a relaxing period of rest on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, and as a base for trips around Umbria and Tuscany, to visit the most beautiful cities of central Italy art. It is 25 km from Perugia, 45 km from Assisi, 60 km from Gubbio, 50 km from Todi, 70 km from Orvieto, 80 km from Siena, 140 km from Florence and 180 km from Rome.
Every year in summer is the traditional town festival, the “Festival of Giacchio“, which takes its name from a characteristic fishing net concentric said exactly dragnet and where you can sample the excellent fish of Lake Trasimeno, cooked according to the traditions locals.
The small village is home to the Fisheries Museum, dedicated to the history and techniques of the ancient fishing activities in the lake. The museum describes the history and life of the lake Trasimeno, from the aspects of the geological formation of the lake to the analysis of the biological plant and animal, telling the story of man who lives on the banks and traditional fishing techniques: boats, networks and various capture tools. The museum features a video room and a classroom, equipped with modern multimedia equipment. Info: www.magionemusei.it
Interesting from a naturalistic point of view is also the ‘Natural oasis “La Valle” by unspoilt nature, where you can perform various activities such as a visit of the exhibition on the historic natural features of the Valley and in general of the Trasimeno, the visit to the emissaries and birdwatching from the pier and from the observatory. Info: www.oasinaturalisticalavalle.it
San Feliciano is also home of the Fishermen’s Cooperative, established in 1928 the first of the fishing cooperatives of Lake Trasimeno operates a fish shop and a laboratory for the processing of fish.
Cooperativa Pescatori sul Trasimeno, as well as the fisheries for best fish of Lake Trasimeno, is committed, through the fishing tourism, in other activities that help to attract visitors to discover and not only that, all the features of the old fisherman’s craft, but also Lake Trasimeno and the fish that can be caught.
Among the many activities the Cooperative proposes:
Fishing tourism: fishing trips for families or large groups on board the barge of the cooperative and accompanied by fishermen.
Fishermen for a day is to accompany and spend a day with and professional fisherman. It allows you to experience the thrill output at dawn on the typical fishing boats, place and collect the nets and then return at the cooperative for delivery of the catch.
Nature hikes: this experience allows you to try the thrill of moving around the waters of the lake. The cooperative provides boats to accompany tourists and fans in the most charming places of the Trasimeno.
Evenings at the beach: the cooperative, on request and based on the number of participants, organizes evenings on the beach with live music and grilled fish.
For information: www.pescatorideltrasimeno.com – tel. +39 075 8476005
POLVESE ISLAND
From San Feliciano you can easily reach the largest of the three islands of Lake Trasimeno, or Polvese Island. In fact, in the small village it is located on the pier landing-stage for Polvese.
The Isola Polvese is part of the municipality of Castiglione del Lago, with its 70 hectares, is the largest of the three islands. The island is of particular interest both from a naturalistic point of view, the presence of a tall holm oak, a very extensive reeds and a centuries-old olive grove from which is derived organic olive oil, both from an artistic and cultural point of view , as it maintains significant historical memories like the Church of S. Second, the Olivetan Monastery, the Church of S. Giuliano and a recently restored medieval castle.
As soon as you get off the ferry you can admire the Villa, the old building, built about 200 years ago, it is composed of several structures, such as the mill, the farmhouse and agricultural implements. These structures have been recovered, and today represent the Service Center and Living Room Studio, with scientific and environmental laboratories, teaching rooms and convention. At left is the Phytoremediation facility, the Island is in fact an example of environmental management based on sustainability criteria thanks to this system, the energy-saving systems and organic farming. A few steps away is the castle of the XIII century, you can admire the medieval walls and the interior courtyard, used as open-air theater. The path to the left of the castle, leading to the pool of Porcinai, a garden of aquatic plants, built at the end of the fifties on a project of the landscape architect Peter Porcinai. At the first intersection on the right you will arrive at the hostel, if you climb on the balcony you can see the whole island. We then come to the monastery of the Olivetan Monks with the Church of San Secondo, of which only the crypt, the apse, some parts of the perimeter wall and the facade. If you exceed the dense forest that is on the right we arrive at the beach where there is a playground and volleyball courts. Finally we come back to the Villa, where you can find the bar and the typical restaurant.
The Isola Polvese is used as Didactic Science Park for education and environmental tourism and as a Territorial Laboratory for sustainable development, for research and experimentation. You can participate in educational tours which provide for a direct interaction with the surrounding environment through moments of games, work on the field and laboratory.
Available to Polvese Island services:
– Beaches and bathing water
– Huge manicured green spaces
– Food service and bars
– Public toilets
– restaurant
– Villa and Foresteria
– Daily ferries
– football field
– Museum and Science Park
– Routes and trails tracked
– Various public shadows
The Polvese island can be reached by boat from San Feliciano, with approximately 10 minutes travel time.
As for the information on fares and schedules on the navigation service can be found here (click)
