Looking for a hidden family-friendly gem in Tuscany? This peaceful lakeside town on the Tuscan border with Umbria has all the charms of a big resort, without any tourist crowds.
As a lover of "Slow Travel," I like to stay in one location for at least 3 days and explore the surrounding area. On my visit to Tuscany, my small family rented part of a farmhouse in Cortona and made day trips to many destinations in Tuscany. For great tips and Italy road-trip planning advice, read my blog post on: Tuscany Road Trip
Castiglione Del Lago Viewed From Cortona |
Gate in Medieval Wall |
The Centro Storico of Castiglione del Lago is within the Medieval walls and completely car-free, making it a delight to stroll. There are several free and paid parking lots along Via Belvedere, the road that circles the Old Town. I also found much free street parking just outside the walled city centre. Most visitors enter Castiglione del Lago through the West Gate, the Porta Senese and wander along the main street, Via Vittorio Emanuele. Here you will find a gauntlet of stores selling Prodotti Tipici or regional products like local cheeses, kinds of dried pasta, beans, spices, sweets, and olive oil.
I loaded up on dried pici, a local thick hand-rolled pasta. For more on local Tuscan products, read my blog post on: 10 Things You Must Eat In Tuscany
photo: Wolfgang Sauber |
Corridor to the castle |
This long walkway leads you to a wonderfully restored stone fortress with sweeping views of Lake Trasimeno, the lake's islands, and Cortona climbing the distant mountainside. Kids can have fun exploring the ramparts, climbing the tall three-sided bastion tower called "the masio," or take in the shade of the olive trees in the castle's bailey.
View From The Masio |
If you have worked up an appetite from exploring the fortress, many excellent local Osterias serve local specialties from Lake Trasimeno. Look for a dish called Brastico, which is fish fire-roasted over reeds from the shore of Lake Trasimeno. Or perhaps try Tegamaccio, a soup made with several different types of lake fish, baked in terracotta pots for five hours. Alternately you can grab some take-out food such as panini (sandwiches), arancini (deep-fried rice balls stuffed with meat and or cheese) or pizza sold by the gram and head to the public beach for a picnic. The beach at Castiglione Del Lago is sandy; the water is warm, clear and shallow, perfect for kids to cool off on a hot day. The lake water is tested daily from April through September to make sure it is safe for swimmers.