San Savino on Lake Trasimeno: Nature and Medieval Heritage

San Savino opens up travel planning between wetlands and medieval heritage. The La Valle Nature Oasis represents a landscape of ornithological importance, while the Castello di San Savino and its churches preserve historical traces on Lake Trasimeno. There is also a stage of the Via del Trasimeno, the Ciclovia Perugia-Trasimeno, which joins the Ciclovia del Trasimeno in San Savino, and a local festival tradition featuring Umbrian cuisine.

Wetlands and Nature Observation

The La Valle Nature Oasis is a wetland covering approximately 1,000 hectares and of great ornithological importance. Shallow waters and extensive reed beds shape the landscape. At the same time, the oasis serves as an important resting and breeding site along the migration routes from Northern Europe to Africa south of the Sahara. Anyone interested in birds, wetlands, and vast natural areas will find a particularly clearly defined focus here.

The La Valle Nature Oasis is located in the Regional Natural Park of Lake Trasimeno. It can be visited alone or in groups of up to nine people. Guided tours can be booked for groups of ten or more participants. Accessible paths and texts in Braille make it possible for everyone to visit.

Churches and Medieval Castle

The church of San Savino was consecrated in 1747 following restoration by Francesco Riccardo Ferniani, the Bishop of Perugia. The Parrocchia di San Savino is already documented in a land register drawn up at the beginning of the 16th century.

When the old parish church of San Savino near Lake Trasimeno was in danger of collapsing, pastoral care was moved to the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena. It stood within the castle, adopted the name San Savino, and received the baptismal font. This explains the connection between the old parish church and the place of worship in the fortified town center.

At the Castello di San Savino, the first known record of the fortified settlement dates back to 1006. At that time, Pietro Attone da Todi founded a monastery here dedicated to Saint Savinus, the bishop and martyr of Sulmona. The surviving medieval remains include the walls, a beautiful pointed-arch gate, the well, the triangular keep, and remains of residential buildings.

The triangular tower of San Savino is considered a landmark of the town and a unique example of medieval architecture on Lake Trasimeno. Near San Savino, by the nature oasis, visitors can also see the remains of the drainage channel built by Braccio Fortebraccio, lord of Perugia from 1416 to 1424. The channel was constructed on the remains of a Roman structure.

Routes for Cycling and Hiking Plans

The Via del Trasimeno includes a stage from San Savino to Panicale. This provides a specific connection for planning a route on foot or with a focus on the lake landscape, without implying anything about the stage's current usability or conditions.

For cycling travelers, the Ciclovia Perugia-Trasimeno leads to San Savino, where it joins the Ciclovia del Trasimeno.

Local Festival Tradition and Umbrian Cuisine

The Pro Loco San Savino has existed since 1996 and, as part of its activities, organizes the traditional village festival Sagra del Gambero. For 2026, it was announced for the period from August 21 to August 30. At the Sagra del Gambero e del Pesce del Lago Trasimeno, a different menu is served every evening, with meat and fish dishes prepared according to the culinary tradition of Umbria.

When choosing your accommodation in San Savino, you can therefore take different interests into account: nature observation in the oasis, historic buildings and medieval traces, the stage to Panicale, the two Ciclovie, or the regional cuisine of an announced festival.

Further places for orientation: Ripaioli, Passignano Sul Trasimeno, Villamagina, San Biagio De La Valle, Mantignana, Sant'arcangelo, Cerqueto, Colpalombo.

For the broader travel overview: Perugia.