After turning off the E455, it is just a short distance to Magione, which takes its name from the Castello dei Cavalieri di Malta (Castle of the Knights of Malta, which can be partly visited upon request). After a brief stop at the Lambardi tower, a former watchtower with a unique view over Perugia and Lake Trasimeno, situated just above the small town, head towards Monte del Lago.
After passing through Montecolognola on the SP 314, take the SP 316. Stop briefly in the pretty fishing village to visit Zocco castle, a huge military fortress dating back to the thirteenth century, where the imposing walls and towers still stand firm, and then head for San Feliciano. It is well worth visiting the Fishing Museum: divided into four rooms, it follows the path of the sun, documenting techniques, tools and even slang terms related to fishing, from prehistory to the present.
If it's time for a break, eating fish from the lake is a must: carpa regina in porchetta (carp with pork), frittura di latterini (deep fried silversides) or "tegamaccio", a kind of stew made with the fish from Lake Trasimeno, with eel taking pride of place.
The SP 316 takes you straight to your destination, La Valle natural oasis, near San Savino di Magione, in the heart of the Trasimeno Park. This is an environmental education and experience centre: the perfect place to bring your kids. Before heading off to discover the most attractive parts of the reserve, in search of Great Crested Grebes and Bitterns, you can take advantage of the equipped classrooms, a laboratory with stereomicroscopes and a documentation centre.
Visit the bird banding station and the walkway that leads into the reeds to a birdwaching observatory. And if you don't have any equipment, don't worry: there are binoculars and telescopes for bird watching. Here many species live and breed: coots and mallards, teals, pochards, widgeons, garganeys and gadwalls, as well as herons and Red herons, Little Egrets and Great Reed Warblers. With a little patience you will be able to admire the flight of the Marsh Harrier, as well as the owl, the Peregrine Falcon and many other migratory species.
