If you are spending your holidays in Tuscany and you have rented a villa in Arezzo or a farmhouse in the countryside around Arezzo, why do not you plan an excursion to Lake Trasimeno?

The Umbrian lake is just about 50 kilometres from the town of the Chimera, and you can reach it by car via the A1 motorway (taking it at Arezzo and exiting at Valdichiana) or via the SR71 Umbro-Casentinese-Romagnola (which passes through the wonderful towns of Castiglion Fiorentino and Cortona).

One of the biggest lakes in Italy, Lake Trasimeno has a surface area of about 130 square kilometres. The lake features three islands: Polvese, inhabited by various species of birds and amphibians; Minore, which is renowned for its colony of cormorants; and Maggiore, the only island inhabited by man (less than 50 people). The last of the three islands can be reached by ferry boat from Tuoro sul Trasimeno (the theatre of a battle between the Roman army and the Carthaginians commanded by Hannibal), Passignano sul Trasimeno and Castiglione del Lago.

The legend goes that the lake owes its name to the beautiful prince Trasimeno, the son of the god Tyrrhenus. Infatuated with the fascinating boy, the nymph Agilla lured and attracted him in the lake, where, unfortunately, the boy drowned.

You can spend a day at the lake and dedicate to activities in the open air (there are various trekking, mountain-bike and horse-riding routes) and shopping (if you love wines, try the white and red Colli del Trasimeno).