Lake of Bolsena

Bolsena Lake is a lake in central Italy only 20 minutes from Orvieto formed over 300,000 years ago following the collapse of the caldera volcanoes in the chain of mountains Volsini. It is the largest volcanic lake in Europe.

It has a shaped oval on its origin, two islands and a river outlet. It has a total area of 113.5 km ² (fifth in Italy), is located 305 m above sea level, has a maximum depth of 151 m and a mean depth of 81 m.

It is located entirely within the province of Viterbo, namely in the north, known as Alta Tuscia. For a considerable part is lapped by the Cassia road, not far from Mount Amiata.

There are numerous tourist facilities, with particular propensity for tourism in contact with nature, and a convenient solution for those who want to discover the art city of the territory as Orvieto.o Viterbo.

Also interesting are the islands of Lake Bolsena

The island Bisentina

Bisentina The island is the largest lake area (17 ha) and can be circumnavigated by the motorboats that leave from the nearby town of Capodimonte. Keep a nature almost untouched with dense forests dileccio, Italian gardens, beautiful landscapes and monuments. Examples are the Church of Saints James and Christopher, with its impressive dome designed by Vignola, also observed by the western shore of the lake, the Franciscan monastery and villa on the island. There are seven chapels on the island, among whom there are Rocchina (whose name derives from the fact that reproduces, in reduced scale, the rocks on the shore of Capodimonte), the church of Santa Caterina, the Chapel of the Crucifix with frescoes 400. It also recalls the horrible Malta of the Pope, life in prison for digging in the ground to those convicted of heresy with just a small hole for light. You can also find two statues, one monumental lion: a rented on the stairs to the top of Mount Tabor, the other, the largest on the language of the island. You can also admire beautiful bays, the summit of Mount Tabor hill, below which there is an ancient dovecote, the rocky cliffs on the blue of the lake to the east and finally the green on the south side towards the village of Capodimonte. The Etruscans and romanihanno left few traces of their presence on the island. In the ninth century, the inhabitants took refuge in nearby Bisenzio (who named it) was destroyed by the Saracens. In mid-1200 it became the property of the lords of Bisenzio that after disputes with the islanders burned abandoning it. In 1261, Urban IV, who recaptured the island in 1333 was destroyed again daLudovico of Bavaria, who was accused of heresy and excommunicated by the Pope. Properties of the Farnese family in 1400 had a period of great prosperity, he was visited by many popes and the Farnese and was incorporated in the territories of the Duchy of Castro. Returning to the Church in the nineteenth century became the private property of local aristocratic family of the Princes of the Dragon that lived in the castle of Bolsena. The current owner is the Princess Angelica of the Dragon. Here it would be buried in the family tomb, Pier Luigi Farnese, lord of Parma and Piacenza, military leader, discussed by fame.

During World War II, the age-old holm oak near the bridge, hollow inside, was used by the men of the Dragon family and their servants to escape the Germans. It is said that the little Dragon Angelica went to bring food to the refugees.

The island Martana

Opposite the village of Martha, which takes its name, the island Martana would secure the remains of Santa Cristina with the intention to prevent them falling prey to the barbarians. Martana The island was also the center of the tragic history of Amalasunta, queen of the Goths, who took power after the death of Theodoric, after being tricked here on the island was murdered by his cousin Teodato. The island, uninhabited, was once the site of an Augustinian monastery. It is currently privately owned and is therefore not possible to visit.