Lake Bolsena

The Lac of Bolsena is a Lac of the central Italy, of ic origin Volcan, which was formed there is approximately 300 000 years, following the collapse of certain craters of the chain of the Vulsini mounts. It passes for more volcanic big lake of Europe.

The lake has an oval, typical form lakes of crater. It has two island S and is drained by an emissary . Its total surface area is of 113,5 km ², its altitude of 305 m, its circumference of 42 km, its depth 151 m at the point low and 81 m on average.

It is entirely in the territory of the Province of Viterbe and precisely in its part Northern, known as of the High Tuscia . It is mainly bordered by the consular road Cassia . Many are the tourist establishments, with a particular propensity for tourism in contact with nature, mainly in the grounds of Camping, the Agrotourisme and the bed and breakfast .

The island S of the lake

The Bisentina island

Of a surface of 17 ha, it is largest, and it constitutes an interesting tourist excursion. The island can visit itself by borrowing a service on the basis of Capodimonte, available several times per day, provided a minimum number of passengers is reached. The price of the ticket includes/understands a small excursion in the Bisentina island with guided visit, to admire almost incontaminée nature, composed of thick wood of evergreen oaks, of gardens to Italian the, panoramas enchanters and many Monument S like the church of Saint Jacques and Saint Christophe, with his Coupole realized by the Architecte Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, the Couvent franciscain; invaluable the Rocchina , small temple dedicated to Holy Catherine in octagonal plan of Sangallo, built on a Etruscan Columbarium, set up on a rocky outcrop with peak on the lake, or the Vault of the Crucifix with its Fresco S of the 5th century, and to finish horrible the Malted dei Papi , Prison with life for the guilty Ecclésiastique S recognized of Hérésie, made of a miserable and obscure cell, inside a hill, and slightly lit by a small trap door placed at 20 m height. The finished excursion, the Bateau makes a panoramic turn of the island, making it possible to see them laughing bays in the west, the majestic Tabor mount in north, the rocks overhanging blue water of the lake in the east, and finally the green part on southernmost bank towards the locality of Capodimonte.

The Etruscan S and the Romain S left few traces of their passage in the island. At the 9th century, it was used as refuge against the incursions of the Sarrazin S. Towards 1250, it became the property of the lords of Bisenzio who gave up it and set fire to it following disagreements with the inhabitants of the island. In 1261, Urbain IV, once elected Pope, reconquered it; it was again destroyed in 1333 by Ludovic the Bavarian one, shown heresy and excommunicated by the pope. Property of the Farnèse starting from 1400, it knew one period of great prosperity and accepted the visit of many popes. In 1635, it was controlled by the duke of Castro, Odoardo Farnese, who entered in conflict with the Église, conflict who ended in the total destruction of Castro. The two islands turned over in the bosom of the church and were yielded again thereafter. The princess Beatrice Spada Potenziani, wife of the duke Fieschi Ravaschieri is the current owner.

The Martana island

Located opposite the locality of Marta, the Martana island would have kept the Relique S of Sainte Christine to prevent that they fall into the hands from the Barbare S. One also only says, later, under the domination of the Goth S, their queen, Amalasonte, would have found there a death atrocious. Théodat, cousin of Amalasunthe, wanting to seize the power, fomented a conspiracy and made it kill with the hands of a sicaire.

The island is currently a private property and cannot be visited.

The emissary

Marta

The emissary , which leaves the Lake Bolsena to the right of the locality of Marta, is a Fleuve which throws in the Tyrrhenian Sea. After having crossed Marta, Tuscania and Tarquinia, it leads to the sea in the sector of the Lido of Tarquinia. It is there, in a splendid area located between the mouth of Marta and that of Mignone, which was created the Natural reserve “Saltworks of Tarquinia”.

Bordering localities of the lake

The localities located on banks of the lake are the following ones:

Bolsena, which gave its name to the lake, is famous for the miracle of the Corpus Domini and for the plastic tables carried out by observers in the evening of the Festival day before of Sainte Christine, holy owner of the city.

Montefiascone, dominates the lake with its imposing monuments, such as Rocca and the cupola of Santa Margherita. Old episcopal see, it is known for its wine Is! Is!! Is!!! .

Marta, village known for its festivities in the honor of the Madonna LED Assembles , called Festa delle Passate , which is often called Barabbata . Its inhabitants live mainly of Agriculture, breeding or devote themselves to the fishing.

Capodimonte, on the edge of the lake, has a landing stage from which the shuttles for the islands leave.

Valentano is known to have given the day to Paolo Ruffini, after having a long time been the center of the time of the Farnèse following the destruction of Castro (1649) and the dissolution of the duchy éponyme. The old castle of Farnèse is the seat of the museum of the prehistory of Tuscia.

Gradoli is famous for its Huile and its Vin, in particular the Vin liqueur-like, known as Aleatico di Gradoli. This locality also preserves an imposing Farnèse palate, which was built for the cardinal Alexandre Farnèse, become Pape under the name of Paul III.

Cave di Castro, in addition to the caves from which probably its name derives, it is a production center of potatoes and lens S.

San Lorenzo Nuovo, this locality, entirely rebuilt and characterized by its modern architecture going back to the end of the 18th century, is re-elected for its Gnocchi of potatoes which can be tasted at the time of the Sagra which is held during the second decade of August.

See too

Lake Mezzano
Caldéra de Latera
List of Lakes Italy

External bonds

Information and photographs in tourist matter on the Lake Bolsena (in Italian)
Service of navigation of the Lake Bolsena (in Italian)
Common of Tarquinia (in Italian)
the new window on the Lake Bolsena

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