Isola Maggiore
Encyclopedia
Isola Maggiore is the second largest island (at approximately 10-acres) on Lake Trasimeno
, in Umbria
, central Italy
. It is a frazione
of the comune
of Tuoro sul Trasimeno
, and is the only inhabited island on the lake, with a current population of 35.
The island's only town reached its height in the 14th century, after the establishment of a Franciscan
Monastery is 1328. Most of the towns buildings date from this period.
By the 1800s the town had a population of 700 and was in decline.
The Guglielmi castle was built on the monastery in the 1880s, which has since fallen into disrepair. The castle is in the process of being turned into a luxury resort and spa, although as of January 2010 for sale.
, agriculture
, tourism
and traditional Irish lace
making which was introduced in the 1900s. Some of the olive
trees on the island
are hundreds of years old.
From the end of February 1944 until 18 June 1944 the castle was used as an internment camp for Jews and political prisoners, sent there for their own safety by the Fascist Prefect of Perugia Armando Rocchi, who was under German instructions to send them instead to a concentration camp at Fosssoli, Carpi di Modena. After the Fascist authorities left Perugia and the British arrived at Sant'Arcangelo on 19 June they were eventually rowed to safety by the island's fishermen, to whom a monument has been erected in the open space next to the Lace Museum. The rescue was organised by the island's priest, don Ottavio Posta.
Visitors can explore the old town and hill; paths cross the island through the olive groves.
Lake Trasimeno
Lake Trasimeno , also referred to as Trasimene or Thrasimene in English, is the largest lake on the Italian peninsula south of the Po River with a surface area of 128 km2, slightly less than Lake Como...
, in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Tuoro sul Trasimeno
Tuoro sul Trasimeno
Tuoro sul Trasimeno is a comune in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 25 km northwest of Perugia....
, and is the only inhabited island on the lake, with a current population of 35.
History
St Francis of Assisi lived on the island as a hermit from 1211. The 12th century Church of Saint Michael the Archangel was built on the top of the hill.The island's only town reached its height in the 14th century, after the establishment of a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Monastery is 1328. Most of the towns buildings date from this period.
By the 1800s the town had a population of 700 and was in decline.
The Guglielmi castle was built on the monastery in the 1880s, which has since fallen into disrepair. The castle is in the process of being turned into a luxury resort and spa, although as of January 2010 for sale.
Economy
Today the town is dependent on fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and traditional Irish lace
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
making which was introduced in the 1900s. Some of the olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
trees on the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
are hundreds of years old.
From the end of February 1944 until 18 June 1944 the castle was used as an internment camp for Jews and political prisoners, sent there for their own safety by the Fascist Prefect of Perugia Armando Rocchi, who was under German instructions to send them instead to a concentration camp at Fosssoli, Carpi di Modena. After the Fascist authorities left Perugia and the British arrived at Sant'Arcangelo on 19 June they were eventually rowed to safety by the island's fishermen, to whom a monument has been erected in the open space next to the Lace Museum. The rescue was organised by the island's priest, don Ottavio Posta.
Visitors can explore the old town and hill; paths cross the island through the olive groves.