Overlooking the shores of Lake Trasimeno, near Punta Navaccia in Tuoro sul Trasimeno, the Campo del Sole is one of Umbria’s most fascinating open-air museums, a place where contemporary art, landscape and historical memory come together to form a truly unique work of art.

Conceived by the renowned artist Pietro Cascella in collaboration with Mauro Berrettini and the Swiss sculptor Cordelia von den Steinen, the project was realised between 1985 and 1989 in an area of great natural beauty, right next to the shores of Lake Trasimeno. More than just a monument, Campo del Sole was conceived as a place for meeting, dialogue and reflection, capable of evoking the profound historical memory of these lands, marked over the centuries by the famous Battle of Trasimeno.

The work takes the form of a large spiral with a diameter of approximately 44 metres, composed of 27 monumental column-sculptures in local pietra serena, a distinctive grey-blue sandstone quarried from the area. The columns, approximately four and a half metres tall, were created by leading Italian and international artists from different generations and artistic sensibilities, giving rise to a harmonious whole that is at the same time rich in diverse personalities.

The spiral leads to a central slab carved by Cascella and surmounted by a solar symbol, an element that ideally represents dialogue, encounter and sharing. The route thus takes on a strong symbolic and meditative significance, guiding the visitor along a path that evokes ancient sacred and monumental sites such as Stonehenge, so much so that it is often described as a sort of ‘contemporary Stonehenge’.

The column motif lends the entire complex a striking verticality that stands out against the lake landscape, creating a strong bond between art and nature. At sunset, when the light reflects off the sculptures and the waters of Lake Trasimeno, the site takes on a particularly evocative atmosphere.

Today, Campo del Sole is not only an important cultural and scenic landmark in the area, but also an open and accessible space, designed to be enjoyed on a daily basis through walks, events and moments of contemplation immersed in the beauty of Lake Trasimeno.