Castiglione del Lago

We drove up to Lake Trasimeno and visited the town of Castiglione del Lago, a walled city perched over the lake, crowned with a castle, ancient olive groves, and beaches.

We walked through the centro on our way to the palace and castle.  I had some iced tea, sampled some salami, and bought a small bag of tartuffo salt (delicious!) from one of the many shops selling local foods.  

The palace, connected to the castle, has huge windows looking out at the olives and the lake.  The high ceilings are covered with fanciful paintings, reminding me of Pompeii.

We climbed all over the castle - up the towers, across the ramparts, and through long, narrow passageways.

I could see the ferries going between the towns and the islands, and the olive trees were beautiful in the evening light.  This spot is so peaceful: definitely one of my favorites.