Parco del Lago Trasimeno

• Trail Conditions: On foot
• Interest: Flora, Panorama

• Departure: Monte Melino
• Duration: 4 hour/s 30 minutes
• Difficulty Level: E - Hiking (level)
• Length: 13.52 km

The starting point of this itinerary is the square in front of the church of Montemelino. Going back a little, take an uphill gravel road advancing into the scrub, mostly made up of holm oaks, strawberry trees, broom, juniper, heathers, viburnum and cistus. The trail's surface is rocky and the ascent takes you towards Mount Penna. On the top you will cross a crest path: take a left in the direction of the aedicule with a cross that you can discern a little further. Once you reached the cross, a quick stop is advised in order to enjoy the panoramic views of Perugia and the Trasimeno. Proceed straight along the crest road in the direction of the summit of Mount Castiglionaccio, advancing into a low scrub mostly made up of strawberry tree, cistus, Downy oak and heathers. Take a left, hiking over a downhill trail along the eastern slope of Mount Castiglionaccio (523 m.). The trail, particularly panoramic, offers several landscape views on the Val Lupina, the Mugnano valley, Agello, Montali and the Marzolana woods. Continue, following the signs, walking around the relief and heading towards the lake, which at a certain point becomes discernible among the vegetation. While crossing some wooded areas, at first you may note particularly butcher's broom, then strawberry trees and finally Turkey oaks. Descending decidedly you arrive to some houses scattered along the edge of the woods. From there, take the trail which skirts the hillside on the right until reaching a panoramic viewpoint from which you can see the hamlet of San Savino and the Trasimeno lake.
Proceeding on the right, take a very rough and, in some places, rocky trail which ascends steeply along the hillside and takes us to the Penna Farmstead and later to the summit of Mount Penna (496 m.). Continue along a crest trail until meeting again the aedicule with the cross, from which you can go back to the starting point. Another option is that of proceeding straight along a descending crest trail which will take you to the fork to the water tanks and later to Montesperello, where a quick stop is advised. Now take the downhill tarmac road and follow it for about 400 meters. Turn right on an unsurfaced road, characterized on the upstream side by the presence of mixed woods, while downstream there are olive orchards and cultivated areas. Proceed into the woods until reaching Montemelino, starting point of this walk.

•  Download Itinerary Monte Melino-Monte Penna-Montesperello (PDF - 1Mb)