Isola Maggiore 2.4 km

Easy hike on the picturesque island Isola Maggiore, suited for children. This is the only inhabited island in the Lago Trasimeno. It is largely covered with olive grove, holm, cypress and pine, and the hike gives you nice views of the lake. You will find a few churches and chapels, and some mementos of the presence of Saint Francis of Assisi. Outside high season, the island is quiet.
You arrive from Tuoro, Passignano or Castiglione del Lago (google traghetti Trasimeno’ to find the time table) in a small harbor. After leaving the pier you find something to eat and drink on a shady square or in the nearby street. You turn right and walk the road with houses down till the end where you follow a rocky lane left and up to the small church San Michele Arcangelo. The church is surrounded by olive trees and positioned at the highest point of the island. You then follow paths to a chapel ‘Giaciglio di San Francesco’ where Francis supposedly fasted for 41 days, and then go down to the eastern shore where you will find another chapel and a statue of Saint Francis. From here a path takes you back to the village along the shore. On the northern shore there is small ‘beach’ (mostly grass, and a shower that may or may not work in high season). When entering the village you can go left up the stairs to visit the San Salvatore church. From here, you could take some other panoramic paths around the island if you like. After going back down the stairs you go left and go back to the ferry jetty.
There is a tourist information just across from the ferry jetty, together with a small lace museum. Apart from the bar-restaurant on the shady square you will find some other restaurants in the village. The southern part of the island is off-limits (private land). You will find several maps of strongly varying quality displayed on the island so you can pick an alternative route.
This hike is described in the book "Rother Wanderführer: Umbrien" by Rolf Goetz (in German), hike 1.