Summary
- Starting point: Punta Navaccia (pista ciclabile)
- Duration: 2:20 h
- Ascent: 400 m
- Length: 32.60 km
- Difficulty level: medium
3. Tra lago e collina
The start point is the area of Punta Navaccia, from where you take the cycle path to Passignano. Bear down the scenic cypress-lined avenue leading to the Fattoria del Pischiello and then turn to Borgo Boiano. At the small cemetery of Torale take the tarmac on the left and then towards the village of Vernazzano Nuovo. From here it’s a shallow climb to Tuoro, past which you take the road to Lisciano Niccone – Mercatale. Leave the main road and continue uphill towards the Parco di Monte Castelluccio nature reserve. From here the route becomes very pleasant, through shady conifer and oak woods. Outside the nature reserve (the boundary of which is marked by a wooden gate), proceed uphill on a bridle path, through a hilly stretch, followed by a dip with bumps and pot-holes, up to a saddle. Continue straight ahead, slightly uphill, towards Poggio Capanne. From here – except for some short and gentle climbs – the road runs along a pleasant ridge, which then dips towards Lake Trasimeno for almost 10 km. This is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable trails, at least as regards the surface, of the entire lake region. Keeping on the upper road you eventually come to a 5-road crossroads marking the boundary between Tuscany and Umbria.
The right track to follow here is the middle one on flat ground, with some shallow dips and without any important turnings, to the Castle of Montegualandro, built on a plateau that dominates the entire area of Lake Trasimeno, as a fortified outpost along the natural route connecting the two regions. Past the castle the road descends to a tarmac stretch and, after several junctions, through Puntabella and Borghetto, to the cycle path and the start point.