Isola Maggiore · Lake Trasimeno · Umbria
Discovering Isola Maggiore
At a Glance
Half Day
Extendable to a full-day itineraryDaily
Available year-roundDedicated Services
Ideal For
- Behind-the-Scenes Italy
- Curated Cultural Immersion
- Intellectual Experience
Three ways to read the island.
Isola Maggiore reveals itself through gestures, places and forms of silence that still belong to the life of the island.
A Small Gesture
Needle lace begins with a minute movement, repeated thousands of times to create only a few centimetres of lace.
An Island Chosen by St Francis
Isola Maggiore still preserves the places connected with the saint’s stay, without adding devotional emphasis to their story.
Two Different Silences
The focused silence of those working with a needle, and the reflective silence of walking through the Franciscan sites.
Isola Maggiore
Lace · Village · Franciscan Sites
The itinerary begins with the ferry to Isola Maggiore, the smallest inhabited island in Lake Trasimeno. The village is explored on foot, among fishermen’s houses and workshops where needle lace is still part of the island’s craft tradition.
Known locally as Punto Irlanda, the technique was introduced to the island in the early twentieth century and gradually became part of its identity. At the Lace Museum, visitors can observe a craft that demands extraordinary patience: a single piece may require months of precise, concentrated work.
The route then continues through the places connected with St Francis, who stayed on the island during a period of Lenten fasting. The Church of San Salvatore and the Church of San Michele Arcangelo form part of a journey that is walked as much as it is visited.
A typical lunch completes the itinerary, bringing the experience back to the flavours and everyday life of the island.
Isola Maggiore is one of the few places on Lake Trasimeno where a genuine continuity between local community and tradition still exists. Lace-making and the Franciscan presence are not reconstructed elements, but living parts of the island.
Everything essential for the itinerary.
A compact half-day programme combining access, local heritage and the everyday culture of Isola Maggiore.
Ferry to Isola Maggiore
Ferry crossing to the island included as part of the itinerary.
Lace Museum
Visit to the Lace Museum, with a focus on the traditional Punto Irlanda needle-lace technique.
Franciscan Sites
Walking route through the places on the island associated with St Francis.
Typical Lunch
A typical lunch inspired by the flavours and everyday food culture of the island.
Extend the experience.
The itinerary can be expanded with additional experiences on the island or across Lake Trasimeno, depending on the programme and available time.
Lace Workshop
Add a lace-making workshop with local artisans for a closer encounter with the island’s needle-lace tradition.
Sunset Photography
Extend the itinerary into the evening with a photographic experience at sunset on Isola Maggiore.
Isola Polvese
Combine Isola Maggiore with a visit to Isola Polvese as part of the same full-day programme.
Bring your clients into the quieter side of Lake Trasimeno.
Ask us to include Isola Maggiore in a tailor-made programme, combining local craftsmanship, cultural heritage and the slower rhythm of the lake.
Start planning with our local team
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