Culture and History
Visit the two islands in the lake
Lago Trasimeno
From the various shore towns, you can take a boat to the two islands. The isola maggiore is the easiest, it has a few bars and restaurants and it is nice to walk around the island, which can be done in an hour. It is a very nice trip for children, because of the stunning boat ride. Boats can be taken from Tuoro, Passignano and Castiglione del Lago. The isola Polvese is a natural park that one can visit. The island has amzing natural beauty and much less populated. The boat to isola Polvese leaves from San Feliciano.
The Roman settlement of Carsulae
Terni
Carsulae is an Archeological Park. Carsulae is close to San Gemini in the region close to Terni. It is a beautiful area to start with, but this archeological site is also very interesting for children. Some very old arches are still standing and it is possible to see old roman roads, cisterns, a temple and a lot more. The site is only open from April to September however.
Medeival Shop
Gubbio
This small shop in the beautiful historic town of Gubbio, sells all sorts of medeival items that have been hand-crafted using medeival methods. There are some lovely items for sale and it is really nice to see these recreations of centuries old items.
Medeival Home
Gubbio
Visit a medieval home in the centre of the beautiful, historic town of Gubbio, in Eastern Umbria. The owners of the medieval shop of Gubbio also have a real home, made the way it used to be in the middle ages (1200). The house is in the centre of Gubbio and once can see how the people lived in medeival times. The entrance is free and the House is truly a spectacular site.
Paese dei Balocchi
Terni
The set of "Pinocchio" and "La Vita e' Bella" can be visited here. At the site there are several events, but one can also view the various sets. Other than this there are a lot of activities for children. A great place for a family trip.
La Scarzuola - La Citta Ideale
La Scarzuola
This Franciscan convent, founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1218, who planted a laurel and rose bush at this place and built a well here, derives its name from 'scarza, a marsh plant that the Holy used for their shelters. The apse of the church contains an early 13th-century fresco depicting the levitation of the Holy.
The monastery complex was purchased in 1956 by the Milanese architect Tomaso Buzzi (1900- 1981). designed between 1958 and 1978, he built his own ideal city next to the monastery, considered a "theatrical machinery. The miniature city, called Buzzi has a total of no less than seven theatres and culminates in the Acropolis (a densely packed opulence of structures containing numerous archetypes (semi open spaces), which offer beautiful views. In this way, a fundamental relationship established between the convent and the theatre building, both laden with symbols and secrets, references and quotations. Inspired by Francesco Colonna's Hypnerotomachia Polyphili (1499), the style can best be defined as neo-mannerism: stairs constructed in all directions, a deliberate disproportion of parts, the creation of a few samples, groups of buildings and memorials, inclined to surrealism , aspects of a labyrinth associated with suggestiveness, geometry, astronomy and magic.
Both the old Monastry and the newer theatre are extremely beatiful and this is truly a place worth visiting. Note that a reservation is required throughout the entire year for a guided tour. Minimum amount of people for a guided tour: 10.