Panicale

Panicale is a historic and picturesque village that surrounds Lake Trasimeno, a few kilometers from Perugia.
As part of The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy and Orange Flag Countries, Panicale is located at the foot of Mount Petrarvella, in a privileged position, between the valley that stretches towards Lake Trasimeno and the Nestore River valley.

The origins of the village are very ancient and its medieval structure is still preserved today, with the walls that outline it and the houses leaning against each other to form concentric ellipses around the main squares.
In fact, Panicale presents the typical plant with concentric circles, an arrangement that once represented one of the most advanced military defense systems. Of great importance for the defense of Perugia was the castle of Panicale which managed to resist the numerous attacks and sieges, preserving a large amount of monuments and historic buildings.

Once in Panicale from Porta Perugina, in a few steps you can reach one of the main squares of the village, Piazza Umberto I, where there is the imposing Fountain, dating back to 1473, which once formed the ancient cistern where the rainwater intended for families living inside the walls. Going up the village, walking along the narrow alleys, you reach Piazza Masolino, the highest point of Panicale. Certainly deserve a visit the Collegiate Church of San Michele Arcangelo, the Castle of Montalera and the Museum of the Tulle, entitled to Anita Belleschi Grifoni.

The economy of Panicale and its territory is mainly agricultural: important is the presence of olive groves, spread throughout the area, that provide an oil free of acidity and that represents one of the pillars of the local cuisine. In the woods are asparagus and many varieties of mushrooms. Another important area is that of the handicrafts, by mentioning the rediscovery of the tulle embroidery “Ars Panicalensis”. The industrial activity is widespread in the village of Tavernelle with factories ranging from the chemical industry (paint) to the textile from the electronics to that of safes and instruments for closing the doors.