4130909AccessibilitaRocca di PassignanoAccessibilita1
Rocca di Passignano
The Rocca di Passignano (fortress of Passignano) stands within the town, in an elevated position above the settlement, which only later expanded to reach the lake's shore. According to some sources, Passignano may mean “place of the pass”, referring to the existence of a Roman military structure set up to control a “pass” connecting the territories of present-day Umbria and Tuscany.
Nothing remains today of this possible construction. Currently, the fortress consists of ruins of medieval structures: square walls, a partially destroyed tower, and the northern part of the castle with a triangular tower. Moreover, a series of narrow streets wind through the section of the historic center once enclosed by the walls, giving a sense of how the internal roads within the castle might have been.
The oldest core is believed to date back to the 5th or 6th century; the square walls, however, were built between 820 and 850, when the castle belonged to the Marquises of Tuscany. In 1187, the property passed to the Canons of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Perugia. In the 13th century, the fortress underwent significant renovations, transforming it into a true fortification, an outpost, and a defense of the Perugian territory.
Torrione della Rocca
Panoramic View of Lake Trasimeno
Side View of the Rocca
Detail of the Arrow Slit
Triangular Tower
During the Middle Ages, the castle of Passignano was contested by many families of Perugian condottieri and nobles, enduring sackings and raids, but it was especially after the war between the Duchy of Tuscany and the Papal States (1479) that its appearance was drastically altered and damaged.
During the Renaissance, various battles took place over the possession of the fortress between some of the most important families in the area: the Della Corgna, the Baglioni, and the Degli Oddi. It was also a battlefield during the War of Castro between the papal troops of Urban VIII Barberini and the Tuscan forces of Grand Duke Ferdinando II.
In 1778, part of the structure was demolished to allow better passage for carriages. Between 1816 and 1817, the Papal government decided to demolish the entire complex, ordering that the material from the destruction of the towers and walls be used to raise the height of the village: the lake had overflowed multiple times, flooding and damaging the houses along the shore.
Finally, bombings during the Second World War severely damaged the castle (Passignano was a military target as it housed the Italian Aeronautical Society, transformed into a military seaplane center in 1940). The fortress was reopened to the public only in 2008, after restoration.
A visit to the fortress, with a climb up the main tower (a full 32 meters high), offers a spectacular view of the lake, with its islands and surrounding hills. Additionally, the ancient manor hosts the small but interesting Museo delle barche (Boat Museum), where traditional Trasimeno boats, low and narrow, are exhibited, including some unique pieces: the 13th-century “monoxylous” boats, made from a single oak trunk, found right in Passignano. Alongside these, fishing equipment and boats from other locations provide important documentation on methods of lake navigation.
Useful information and accessibility
Useful information:
The structure is managed by the Pro Loco of Passignano under an agreement with the Municipality.
It is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM, every day except Monday.
Guided tours can be booked by contacting the designated Infopoint at the phone number below.
Email: proloco.passignano@gmail.com
Phone: 075 8298081 (Pro Loco of Passignano)
Free admission for people with disabilities.
How to reach the property:
The venue is within the walls of the village, in a pedestrian zone. Vehicles with a disability permit can access the pedestrian area and approach the Rocca, but there is no parking available. In Piazza Trento e Trieste, there are two parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities with a permit, and other paid parking spaces. The surface is compact asphalt and mostly flat. From there to the Rocca's entrance, the path is 130 meters long, with slopes ranging from 12% to 18%. The pavement is asphalt up to the arch, then non-slip stone slabs.
Moving around the facility:
The structure spans three levels, plus the tower. At the museum entrance gate, before the ticket office, there is a flight of stairs with ten steps, ascending, without a handrail, and made of uneven stone. For visitors with mobility difficulties, a stairlift with a foldable platform (with a capacity of 250 kg, 70 cm wide and 90 cm long) is available, which can be activated by contacting the ticket office staff. After the stairs, there is a ramp about 9 meters long with a 10% slope leading to the central courtyard. From here, you can access the bar, which also serves as the ticket office, and a room used for exhibitions (which has 5 steps before its entrance). The path from the entrance with the stairlift to the ticket office is entirely outdoors. The entrance to the bar/ticket office has a glass door with a passage width greater than 75 cm and a flat threshold. The ticket counter is 95 cm high, while the bar counter is 120 cm high. The connection between the museum floors and the tower is via spiral staircases, with a handrail on one side. Alternatively, people with disabilities or mobility difficulties can use a lift platform accessible from the bar, located behind the counter. The lift platform has an 80 cm wide door on the short side, and the cabin is 129 cm deep and 90 cm wide. The control panel features raised numbers and Braille. This lifting device connects the ground floor, the first floor where the Boat Museum is located, and the panoramic terrace. The tower can only be accessed via the spiral staircase. The entire route has a single access point.
At the entrance, there is a bar that uses the Belvedere Terrace, where you can sit and enjoy the view of Lake Trasimeno. The terrace has two levels with tables and seating: the first level is the main walkway, with no obstacles, while the second is raised and accessible via a flight of four steps without a handrail.
Use of contents:
The Boat Museum is an interesting display of boats and typical equipment from Lake Trasimeno and other Italian inland waters. Inside, you will find original artifacts, reconstructions, display cases, and wall-mounted descriptive panels.
Toilet features:
The toilets have a separate entrance on the street, next to the entrance gate. The entrance has an inclined ramp with an 18% slope and a door with a passage width greater than 75 cm. To reach the toilets, you need to climb a flight of stairs with 6 steps, ascending, with a handrail on one side. Alternatively, a stairlift with a foldable platform (70 cm wide and 74 cm long) is available. However, to operate the stairlift and access these facilities, you must contact the bar staff, who have the keys. The toilet is wheelchair accessible. There is diagonal and front access to the toilet. It features a fixed horizontal grab bar and a foldable one on the sides of the toilet.
