The Bolsena's Lake

ocated in the northern tip of Latium, 25 miles distan from Rome, Lake Bolsena borders Umbria and Tuscany.A volcanic lake .ca. 1300ft.a.s.l..

Its circumference is ca. 30 miles and the max. depth ca. 480ft. The diameter ca. 8 miles.

Two islands Bisentina and Martana.

The water of the lake is of a good quality.

The miracle of Bolsena.

The landscape surrounding the lake is almost green due to the mild climate

It rains seldom, rather short, but often very heavy.

The soil, of volcanic origin, absorbs the water providing the plants over long periods of dryness.

After the late summer rain one can speak of a second spring during autumn, everything blooms again.

As a rule, including December, the climate is rather mild.

ontefiascone is located at the so called "Francigena"'s way. During middle ages used by many pilgrims on their way to Rome. Among them as well the Augsburger Prelate Johannes Fugger. About him there is the following story: Fugger loved the wine, above all the Italian wine. Arriving to a town he sent his servant (Martino) ahead to test the wine. Finding a good wine the servant wrote a large "EST!" (here it is), next to the winehouse-door.

is master understood it was worthwhile to go in. Arriving Montefiascone the servant was so impressed by the wine he wrote: "EST! EST!! EST!!!".

Herewith the story almost comes to an ned. The Prelate Johannes Fugger drank himself to death. An almost illegible inscription by the servant on the tomb in the Church of San Flaviano says: "EST EST EST because having to much of it, my Lord Johannes Fugger died." Therefore the wine of Montefiascone is named: EST!EST!!EST!!!.

7 Miles far from Montefiascone, we find natural hot water springs for everyone free to visit. The water runs into several natural basins with different temperatures.

They are so much liked by the Italian of all ages, all during the day and until the late evening.

o romantic to see from the shore of the lake -one could easily believeto find the castle ofsleeping-beauty. It is privately owned, no one can visit there, not even organized excursions.

pproaching the steep side by boat, one discovers a slab with an inscription to the Queen Amalasunta murdered here, as a legend tells us.

The only daughter of Theoderich the Great, married to the gothic king Theohad, but beeing at the same time his worst political enemy. Exiled to the island Martana. She was murdered there by order of her husband in 535.