Isola Polvese
The Polvese is an island in Lake Trasimeno in Italy. It belongs to the municipality of Castiglione del Lago and is owned by the province of Perugia.
Geography
The Polvese with an area of 69.6 hectares is the largest of the three islands in the lake.
The shoreline is located at an altitude of 258 meters, the highest elevation is 313.4 meters high. The maximum length is 1.7 km, the width of around 700 meters.
On the sunnier west and south sides are numerous olive trees; on the north coast grow mainly oaks. The flat beaches are covered with extensive reed beds that provide habitat for numerous bird and amphibian species.
Infrastructure
The island is several times a day by a boat service from San Feliciano made accessible and can be walked on well-maintained walking trails. The restaurant " Il Poggio " is also Hostel.
On the east side of the sprawling meadows are available for play; on the sandy beach on the north side can be bathed.
In the seminar center with conference room are in the " Villa Forestiera " and the guest house a total of 44 beds available. In the villa there is a restaurant and a bar. In the self-service restaurant " Casa di Delfo » can be served per meal 150 to 200 people.
When the ship pier tourist information can be obtained.
Ship pier
Youth hostel
Playground
Beach on the east side
History
The island was already inhabited at the time of the Etruscans and Romans, from which epoch in the church of San Giuliano single residues of Opus reticulatum have received. First mentioned the island of the Pious Pope Paschal I. 817 is in a document in which the Emperor Louis the city of Perugia and the three islands of the lake as a fief awards.
1139, the inhabitants of the island went under the protection of the city of Perugia. The approximately 500 people lived from fishing and the produce of their gardens and brought it to some prosperity.
After 1482 began Olivetans monks, almost completely replant the island with olive trees. In 1624 they fled from malaria to Perugia, which led to a decline of prosperity.
1643 caused the stationed troops on the island of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany considerable damage. During the 18th century only a few dozen people lived on the island.
1841 bought the Count of Spoleto Pianciani the island, which was used primarily as a hunting ground. In 1893 Ferdinando Cesaroni owner of the island. In 1917, he gave it to his niece to her wedding with writer and journalist Ugo Ojetti.
1939, the island came into the possession of Biagio Biagiotti, who built the Casa Merlata ( " house with the battlements "). He also promoted agriculture. At that time around 30 people lived on the island. The start of his construction of the " Villa Forestiera " was led by his successor Citterio to an end.
In 1959 the island was purchased by the Milanese Count Giannino Citterio, who had, among other things create the water garden plants. After the acquisition by the province of Perugia in 1972, it developed into a popular recreational area. The largest part is a nature reserve and must not be built on.
In 1995, the Polvese was declared by the province of Perugia in a " scientific- didactic nature park". The park serves as a starting point for research and experiments as well as for education and training in the characters of environmental protection.
In 2005, the island received an environmental award. It is subject to regular inspections for environmental quality according to international guidelines. 2007, the island was proposed for the EDEN Award for " European Destinations of Excellence " ( European Destinations of Excellence ).
Attractions
In addition to the scenic attractions such as gardens, trees and plants are on the island ruins of historic buildings:
Fort
From the castle from the 14th century, the tower and the wall towers came with the curtain wall in the shape of a pentagon. The longest 85 meters wall on the south side once stood on the waterfront. The terraced courtyard was not overbuilt.
During the Renaissance, the defense system was reinforced by cannon, which were installed in the towers on two floors. The building has never served as a residence for the ruler, but was a refuge for the population in times of war.
Next to the church, the small, the interior frescoed church of San Giuliano is from the 11th century.
Monastery of San Secondo
The two-storey convent of Olivetans monks stood on the highest point of the island. It joined at right angles to the abbey church and was built in 1482 IV by a decree of Pope Sixtus, 1624 it was abandoned.
The three-nave church with monastery crypt and apse was first attested in 1014. From it just the outer walls have been preserved.
The actual monastery building is currently (summer 2011) repaired. Both buildings are not open to the public.
Aquatic plants garden
The Giardino delle Piante Acquatiche was designed in an old limestone quarry by the Florentine landscape architect Pietro Porcinai (1910-1986) 1959/60. Different pans are beaten out of the rock, the deepest has a maximum depth of 5.3 meters. The pools are fed by seawater. They are surrounded by fields of olive trees and typical plants such as strawberry trees, myrtle, thyme and lavender.