Guide to Passignano

'Superb for walkers and nature-lovers, this quaint medieval town rests on the banks of spectacular Lake Trasimeno surrounded by pretty hilltop villages and glorious countryside.'

This is where St. Francis of Assisi came to meditate, and you can hardly blame him. For when it comes to chilling out, the sheer beauty of Passignano offers pure bliss.
Overlooking Lake Trasimeno in the middle of golden fields, mountains and castle-topped villages, Passignano was once an ancient hill fortress. Today, its centre offers plenty of fascinating monuments, from an impressive clock tower and charming churches to incredible half-crumbled walls and gateways. Checking them out requires a morning or three's exploring, especially when peppered with visits to the waterfront restaurants and cafes.
When you're ready to roam further, you'll be following in famous footsteps. The plains near Passignano once shook to the thunderous impact of elephant-riding Hannibal and his soldiers, who ambushed a Roman army here in 217BC. And for more images of long-ago battles, call in at beautiful Castiglione del Lago. This fascinating town has a magical castle, the Rocco del Leone, which offers dizzying views. And don't miss Castiglione's Palazzo della Corgna with its frescos illustrating Hannibal's exploits.
Time to spare? Visit Perugia, famed for its chocolate-making and fountained piazza. Take a ferry to Trasimeno's pretty islands or sunbathe on a lakeside beach. Or go birdwatching around the lake's shores, watching for kingfishers, heron and kites.
Come evening, sit at a Passignano ristorante to sample pasta al tartufi, the regional delicacy made with Umbria's celebrated black truffles. Deliciously aromatic, they're renowned as aphrodisiacs – the perfect accompaniment to the silver-soft Umbrian moon.

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