The Lake of Piediluco, a natural oasis near San Gemini
Umbria has always been considered the Green Heart of Italy because of its uncontaminated natural landscapes of rare beauty. Near the village of San Gemini there is, for example, the beautiful Lake of Piediluco with the homonymous village.
This lake as the Marmore Waterfalls, the Sources of Clitunno and the Nera River Park, is a perfect destination to spend a day surrounded by the marvellous Umbrian nature.
So, discover many interesting information about the Lake of Piediluco as well as what to see during a one-day excursion along its shore:
The characteristics of the Lake of Piediluco
The Lake of Piediluco is 40 km from the medieval village of San Gemini, near the Marmore Waterfalls at the border with Lazio.
This lake has an irregular shape, with a little imagination you can identify 7 arms, and a perimeter of 13 km.
The Lake of Piediluco has a maximum depth of 19 meters so, its waters are particularly placid. For this reason, this lake is a perfect destination where to practise water sports like sailing, water skiing and even canoeing, in fact, the Italian Olympic Rowing Team is trained here.
The village of Piediluco
Since 2016 the village of Piediluco, located along the east coast of the homonymous lake, has become part of the association The most beautiful villages in Italy, a private organization whose purpose is to safeguard and revitalize characteristic countries.
Walking through the streets of this small fishing village you can admire picturesque houses and visit the impressive Sanctuary of Saint Francis built between 1200 and 1300 in memory of the visit of Saint Francis to Piediluco. This place of worship, although presents the architectural features of the Franciscan churches, is characterized by a richly decorated portal.
A walk to discover the village of Piediluco can continue in the lush garden of Villalago, a noble neoclassical building now owned by the Italian Government. In this park, you can admire over 30 species of wild orchids and you can enjoy a fantastic view of the lake.
The fortress of Piediluco
The village of Piediluco and its lake are dominated by the remains of a fascinating fortress built on the plan of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the goddess Velina.
The fortress of Piediluco was built in the late 1700s as an outpost of the Rocca Albornoziana of Spoleto to protect this territory that belonged to the Papal State.
Today, you can see only the remains of this fortress that highlight its imposing and complex structure that included a noble palace, a church, a courtyard of arms, a cistern for the collection of rainwater and the walls.
To reach the fortress of Piediluco it is necessary to take a dirt path where there are the ruins of various sighting towers.
The Mountain of the Echo
Along the shores of the Lake Piediluco, there is the Mount Caperno more known as the Mountain of the Echo because thanks to its particular morphology is able to emit an echo.
Generally, to listen to the echo you have to walk along the path that leads to the summit of the mountain where you can enjoy a fantastic view of the lake.
A boat trip on the Lake of Piediluco
To take a boat trip along the Lake of Piediluco is the best way to enjoy its beauty, in fact, it allows you to discover all the suggestive corners, the inlets and the beaches that dot its shores. Moreover, you can enjoy a new and unusual view of the village of Piediluco.
All the boats are modern and respectful of the environment and usually follow an itinerary that leads in front of the Mountain of the Echo.
The Water Festival
Every year in Piediluco in the days of the Summer Solstice it’s celebrated the Water Festival, a thousand-year-old tradition dating back to pre-Christian times. During the paganism, in fact, the people of the lake celebrated the period of maximum splendour of the sun with songs and dances.
Today, the Water Festival is a way to perpetuate this tradition thanks to various initiatives and events, for example, the streets of the village of Piediluco are filled with colourful stalls where you can buy typical food and craft items.
The most important event of the Piediluco Water Festival is represented by the night parade of boats decorated with thousands of flowers followed by unforgettable fireworks.
