Badia: Hilly Landscape, History and the I tre Laghi Cycling Route

Badia is located in the hilly part of the municipality of Castiglione del Lago, in a panoramic position southeast of the main town. The village developed along the ridge of a hill overlooking Lake Trasimeno. This combination of hilly landscapes, lake views and local history makes Badia a destination for travellers who wish to shape their stay around landscapes, history and selected cultural attractions.

Etruscan traces and local history

The area around Badia was already inhabited in Etruscan times; numerous finds from the area provide evidence of this early settlement. For you, this early settlement offers a glimpse into the long historical dimension of the village. Those interested in early history can therefore also visit Badia from a historical perspective.

Abbey, parish church and Chiugi Perugino

Badia owes its name to a Benedictine abbey that stood a few metres from the present-day centre of the village. The parish church of Badia now stands on the site where the Benedictine abbey once stood. During the Battle of Lake Trasimene in the Second World War, the parish church was completely destroyed and rebuilt after the war.

Badia was also one of the 14 posts of the Chiugi Perugino. This historical connection broadens the perspective on the village beyond the history of the abbey and the parish church.

Cultural attractions in the surrounding area

In the area around Badia are the Palazzo Duca Della Corgna palace, the Museo Civico, a museum, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Chiusi, a museum, and the Opera Laicale Della Cattedrale, a museum. These destinations broaden the cultural spectrum, ranging from religious history and palace architecture to museum visits. This allows you to tailor your excursions to different cultural interests.

Islands and cave in the wider regional area

The islands of Isola Polvese and Isola Minore are located in the area around Badia. In the wider regional area around Badia are the island of Isola Maggiore and the Grotte paleolitiche di Belverde cave. The different nature of these destinations – islands and cave – opens up several directions for planning your trip and connects with Badia’s view of Lake Trasimeno.

The I tre Laghi cycling route

After Lake Chiusi, the I tre Laghi cycling route passes close to the Church of San Cristoforo in Badia, featuring gentle ascents and descents as well as roads with changing surfaces. If you are planning a cycling tour, you can take this combination of local connection, gradient profile and road surfaces into account when making your own decision.

From Badia, the I tre Laghi cycling route continues via Madonna del Vitellino to Castiglione del Lago and back to the starting point. For you, this means a route that includes Badia, Madonna del Vitellino and Castiglione del Lago in succession before returning to the starting point. This is particularly relevant if you wish to include several places in a coherent cycling tour plan.

More destinations

More destinations: Pian di Marte, Rosciolo, Chiugiana-La Commenda, Fiore, Promano, Todi, Fighille, Calzolaro

To the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.